Munster set to announce signing of former Leinster prop Michael Alaalatoa

INCOMING: Michael Alaalatoa. Pic: Nick Elliott

Munster will on Wednesday announce the signing of Samoan international tighthead prop Michael Alaalatoa on a seven-month contract.

The former Leinster front-rower, 34, will join the province with immediate effect from French Top 14 club ASM Clermont Auvergne to boost Clayton McMillan's selection options at tighthead.

Ireland international Oli Jager has not played since October 10, when he sustained a head injury against Edinburgh and though it is possible the former Crusader could come back to face the Stormers on October 29 in a top-of-the-table URC clash at Thomond Park, the 30-year-old will not be rushed back following a number of prior concussions. 

Roman Salanoa has yet to appear this season following a lengthy knee injury, though Munster are easing him back to full match readiness and the American-born prop has featured in AIL 1A action for Nenagh Ormond. 

With Conor Bartley also sidelined with a hamstring injury, 37-year-old veteran John Ryan is the only fit senior tighthead available to McMillan, who has been forced to hand additional game time to academy prop Ronan Foxe in Munster’s last three URC matches off the bench. 

Foxe, 22, was handed his first start in the challenge match against Argentina XV on November 1 but the arrival of Alaalatoa will receive some of the pressure.

Alaalatoa is no stranger to Ireland and the URC, having spent three seasons with Leinster, leaving for Clermont as French star Rabah Slimani moved in the opposite direction in 2023.

Slimani's presence in the Leinster squad means Munster needed approval to go after the Samoan from the IRFU. 

The governing body's performance director David Humphreys appears to have made good on his pledge to assess the signing of NIQ (Non-Irish Qualified) players on a case-by-case basis rather than the previously strict adherence to one per position across the Leinster, Munster and Ulster squads.