Januarie will be with the Ospreys for December and January

The Ospreys have signed South Africa scrum-half Ricky Januarie on a three-month mid-winter contract amid a scrum-half injury crisis.

Mike Phillips, Jamie Nutbrown and Tom Isaacs are at varying stages of recovery from injuries.

Ospreys boss Andrew Hore said: "We have moved to secure Ricky's services because of the exceptional circumstances we face at scrum-half."

Liam Davies and Rhys Webb will share duties in the meantime.

Nutbrown has a knee injury and Isaacs, the only other scrum-half registered in their Heineken Cup squad, is out for the rest of the season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his shoulder.

Webb is recovering match fitness after shoulder and knee surgery and the Ospreys could also call on Swansea's Rhodri Wells.

Januarie was omitted from the Springboks' current European tour squad and his provincial side, the Stormers, hope his stint in Wales will bring him back to form ahead of the Super 14 season.

606: DEBATE What do you make of this signing?

Elite performance director Hore was keen to emphasise Januarie's signing has been conducted with the Welsh Rugby Union's approval as his signing breaks the quota of non-Welsh qualified players at the Ospreys.

Hore added: "We had strengthened in this position during the summer, with the addition to the squad of two young, Welsh, scrum-halves to complement the players already on the books.

"But with three of our scrum-halves now ruled out with long-term injuries, another some way from the levels of fitness required to be involved in such an intense competition, and an additional young Welsh scrum-half in Liam Davies still developing, we have been left with little option but to look outside of the squad.

"December and January is a particularly tough period in the rugby calendar.

"It is make or break time in terms of European competition, and the possibility of securing a home quarter-final, and also, as far as our hopes of securing a top four position in the Magners League.

"The intensity of these games reaches almost Test-match level with the Heineken Cup fixtures and a busy schedule of Welsh derbies, and it is clear that this is not the time to take risks.

"Throwing in a young player ahead of schedule, in terms of their return from injury or their own personal development, could be detrimental to both them individually, and to the Ospreys and Welsh rugby.

We feel strongly that this isn't the time of year to over-rely on our younger players Ospreys elite performance director Andrew Hore

"The last thing we want to do is to use a player who isn't ready for the intensity of the Heineken Cup rugby and set them back some way.

"We remain committed to the development of local, young, Welsh talent, but our considered opinion is that on this occasion, the best course of action for us is to look outside of the region for an experienced, battle-hardened scrum-half who is ready to step into the intensity of Heineken Cup battle.

"There will still be plenty of opportunities for Rhys and Liam to get game time in the Magners League over this period.

"But we feel strongly that this isn't the time of year to over-rely on our younger players. We have obligations to our fantastic supporters and stakeholders to perform as strongly as possible.

"Ricky Januarie certainly fits the bill. He is a proven performer at the top level of the game, and he is really up for it.

"Having just missed out on the Springboks' European tour squad, he wants to come to 'Ospreylia' and send out a message, before returning home to join up with the Stormers for the new Super 14 season.

"We are grateful to the WRU for their understanding of the current situation and we look forward to Ricky joining the squad for training next week."

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