'It couldn't happen to a nicer bloke' - Van Graan delighted with Loughman's Irish call-up

Munster head coach Johann van Graan says Jeremy Loughman's first international call-up is thoroughly deserved, after the prop linked up with Andy Farrell's side this week.

The 26-year-old received his first call-up to the Irish senior squad as injury cover at loosehead, after ankle surgery ruled Andrew Porter out of the rest of the tournament.

Loughman was drafted in off the back of an impressive season for Munster, during which time he's played 12 games, scoring two tries, and staying ahead of Josh Wycherley in the province's depth chart.

And speaking this afternoon from Munster's tour-base in Pretoria, head coach Van Graan says the Kildare man has a special place in his own heart, having initially brought him in on a short-term deal in 2017.

"It's great for him to be called up to the national team. If you think back to 2017 when I joined Munster, he was the first player that I signed," said Van Graan.

"We had an injury crisis the week that I arrived and we brought him from Dublin, so he’s the first new guy that came to Munster while I was there.

"An incredible journey that he has been on, coming from club land, making his way through the Pro14 at that stage.

"I remember that European game against the Ospreys (2019) when he threw that ridiculous pass from left to right to Andrew Conway when he was man of the match. And he has just become one of those guys, week-in, week-out, is available.

"His scrummaging has come on a lot and just for him to be at the national team is just brilliant. It couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke who has worked really hard."

While Van Graan (above) was clearly pleased for Loughman, it leaves Munster light on loosehead props for their two-game tour of South Africa which begins against the Bulls at Loftus