Munster have announced the signing of prop Oli Jager from the Crusaders, with the 28-year-old agreeing a three-and-a-half year contract with the province.
Jager is set to link up with his new side at the start of December, ahead of their Investec Champions Cup campaign.
Graham Rowntree's side had been expected to confirm the tighthead prop's arrival, after it was revealed he would be given an early release from his contract at the Super Rugby champions last week.
Jager, who grew up in Kildare, had been based in New Zealand since 2013 and won five Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders since making his debut in 2017.
Munster have long been admirers of the prop, having previously made approaches to bring him back to Ireland.
In an interview with RTÉ Sport in 2021, Jager revealed his ambitions to stay in New Zealand in pursuit of a Test career with the All Blacks, but while he was previously called up to the non-capped 'All Blacks XV' in 2022 and 2023, he was forced with withdraw from those squads due to injury and personal reasons respectively.
Born in London, Jager grew up in Kildare where he attended Newbridge College and later Blackrock College in Dublin, where he played alongside his future Munster team-mate Jeremy Loughman.
After missing out on a place in Leinster's Academy, Jager moved to New Zealand at the age of 18 where he joined up with the Crusaders International High Performance Unit, making his Super Rugby debut at the start of the 2017 season.
In seven seasons, he made 51 appearances for the side, and had been first choice tighthead for Scott Robertson's team in each of the last two campaigns. On top of five Super Rugby titles, he also won the Super Rugby Aotearoa championship in 2020 and 2021.
Jager (above) will arrive in Limerick at the start of December, where he will provide competition for John Ryan, Stephen Archer, Keynan Knox and Roman Salanoa, although Salanoa remains sidelined with a knee injury until the new year.
The experienced prop will also instantly be a contender for a place in Andy Farrell's Six Nations squad alongside Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham and Tom O'Toole.
Jager is one of three news signings for Munster, who have also confirmed the arrivals of hooker Eoghan Clarke and back-three player Colm Hogan on short-term deals.
Clarke spent three years in the Munster Academy before departing for Jersey Reds in March 2021. A former Ireland Under-20 international, he won the English Championship with Jersey Reds last season before the club went into liquidation last month.
Hogan, who has lined out for Ireland U20 and Munster A in the past, played his schools rugby with Glenstal Abbey. He captained Dublin University in the AIL and also had a spell with Colomiers in the PRO D2 while studying in France.
The 26-year-old played for Leinster against Chile last year and lined out with recent Munster arrival Alex Nankivell for Tasman Mako in the NPC this year.
Meanwhile, Jean Kleyn and Deirbhile Nic a Bháird have been named the province's Players of the Year for 2023.
Kleyn was named men's player of the year after a standout campaign for Munster, starting 24 games in all competitions to help them win the URC title, before going on to win the World Cup with South Africa last month.
Nic a Bháird took the women's player of the year prize after playing a pivotal role in Munster's Interprovincial Championship success in January, before a return to the Irish squad during the Six Nations.
Among the other winners at the province's 2023 awards, flanker Ruadhan Quinn was voted academy player of the year, while out-half Kate Flannery won the breakthrough women's player of the year.
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