Leinster sign Jamie Hagan on three-month loan deal ahead of Italy trip

Leinster have announced the signing of prop Jamie Hagan from London Irish on a three-month loan deal ahead of Sunday's trip to Italy to face Benetton Treviso.

The move comes as Ed Byrne undergoes surgery today after he ruptured ligaments in his knee during the win against Edinburgh last month and now faces six months on the sidelines.

Leinster have already lost Jack McGrath and Mike Ross to Ireland, while Cian Healy is out with a hamstring injury. Coach Matt O'Connor was pleased to welcome Balbriggan-born Hagan back to Dublin.

He said: “Ed unfortunately ruptured his ACL at the back end of the Edinburgh game. He’s going to have surgery which will probably keep him out for nearly six months which is very frustrating. As a result we’re a little bit light in the prop department and thankfully we’ve been able to come to an agreement with Irish and Jamie’s going to join us for three months.

“He’s a bloke who’s been around the traps and has proven he can do a job at the top level and is going to be invaluable for us.”

Meanwhile, O’Connor is still in the dark over the availability of Leinster’s internationals for the Italy trip.