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Cape Town - Talented Western Province centre/wing Pat Howard will join top Irish province, Munster, on a three-month loan deal.
Due to knee injuries to Keith Earls and Cian Bohane, and the deferred arrival of New Zealander Tyler Bleyendaal, Munster head coach Anthony Foley has called on the services of Howard to bolster their midfield options.
Howard, 22, made his Currie Cup debut for Western Province against the Free State Cheetahs in August 2012 and has made a total of 11 appearances in the competition - six coming this season as WP won their second Currie Cup title in three years.
In all, the 101kg outside back has played 20 matches for WP - at Vodacom and Currie Cup level - scoring a total of five tries.
WP Director of Rugby Gert Smal told the WP Rugby website: “It’s a three-month loan deal, brought about by some injuries at centre in the Munster set-up, and we look forward to welcoming Pat back in February (2015).
“The move initially came about via Jean de Villiers, who of course played at Munster, and then I chatted with the Munster CEO and it was made possible by both parties.
“It’s a great opportunity for Pat, who can do with the game time and will be able to broaden his horizons as a rugby player and a person at a top club like Munster in some top-level competitions.”
The powerful and skilful back can play at centre or on the wing - where he mainly featured for WP this season - having made his name as a straight-running outside centre at junior level for WP and the IRB JWC title-winning SA Under-20 team in 2012.
