Former All Blacks prop John Schwalger will join the Hurricanes for the last three rounds of the Super Rugby season.
Injuries have affected the team’s front-row stocks, prompting a request to the New Zealand Rugby Union for Schwalger to be available over the next three weeks, having completed a second season with French club Agen.
The 29-year-old was given the green light although, as a returning overseas player, he will need clearance from Sanzar to contest the playoffs if the ninth-placed Hurricanes were to qualify.
Schwalger, who played in a friendly match against the Crusaders in Levin on Friday, is available for this Friday’s match against the Chiefs in Hamilton, which would be his 76th for the franchise after playing six seasons before leaving for France in 2011.
The loosehead has signed with Wellington and the Hurricanes through to 2015.
Samoan-born Schwalger collected All Blacks caps in Tests against Canada in 2007 and Ireland in 2008.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have confirmed inside centre Tim Bateman won’t play again this season after injuring his knee in a club rugby match this month.
Bateman played in the first 12 games of the campaign, starting 11 of them.