Ospreys move for Springbok scrum-half
Western Province are allowing the South Africa international to travel to Wales for a short-term contract.
Rassie Erasmus, Januarie's coach at the Stormers, broke the news, revealing the 27-year-old would be flying to Swansea to ''have a full bash'' with the Ospreys.
The deal had last night still to be rubber-stamped by the Welsh Rugby Union, whose approval is needed under the new participation agreement, with the Ospreys required to explain why they are bringing in an extra overseas player.
They will say that Mike Phillips isn't due back until the end of February because of injury, while there is uncertainty about when Jamie Nutbrown will return and Rhys Webb needs more game-time after his long-term fitness problems.
Liam Davies is available, but the region want more experience for a crunch phase of the season.
And the nuggety Januarie, with 40 Test caps for South Africa, has those all-important miles on the clock.
''He is extremely tough,'' said Ospreys' elite performance director Andrew Hore, ''and we need someone tough and strong for what is a make-or-break stage of the campaign.
''Circumstances have left us stretched at scrum-half, with Mike, Jamie and Tom Isaacs ruled out by long-term injuries. Rhys is working his way back to match fitness, while we are still developing Liam.
''December and January are crucial months in the rugby calendar, when we need to be at our strongest to ensure qualification for the Heineken Cup quarter- finals and the Magners League play-offs.
''We want someone with experience and quality and Ricky Januarie fits the bill. He is a proven performer at the top level.
''And, importantly, he is really up for it. He wants to come over and play for the Ospreys.''
Januarie is behind Fourie Du Preez in South Africa's scrum-half pecking order but he showed his worth at Test level with an outstanding performance against New Zealand in Dunedin last year, crowned by a match-winning try. His efforts in that game helped bring to an end the All Blacks' world-record run of home victories, which had stretched to 30 matches.
Revitalise
The Ospreys hope the short stint will revitalise his game and boost them for their European matches with Clermont Auvergne and Leicester.
''Those two sides are the best in England and France,'' said Hore. ''We also have a number of big Magners League fixtures.
''We would be looking to give Rhys and Liam game-time in those, but it isn't a time of the year to over-rely on young players and test them out.
''We have obligations to our fans and to our stakeholders to perform as strongly as possible.''
Comment on this story