Johan Ackermann says Gloucester are in the process of finalising a loan deal for Jaco Visagie.

The South African hooker is set to join the club until January from The Bulls, who announced the move on Monday.

Visagie, 26, will help fill the void by Franco Marais’ injury, which has caused him to be ruled out for 12 weeks, and Ackermann believes he can add crucial depth and experience to the squad.

Ackermann said: “We’ve spoken to them (the Bulls). Obviously with the injury of Franco that opens the door for him.

Jaco Visagie of the Bulls

“He’s an up-and-coming player in South Africa but has played a fair bit of Super Rugby so he’s got experience and hopefully he can add to us and enjoy it if he does come over.

“We’re playing basically with one senior hooker with James Hanson.

We’ve got Joe Mullis, who’s been injured for a fair bit and Henry (Walker) is learning his trade and same with (Todd) Gleave so the thing is we felt we needed to up the stocks there and get a bit of depth so that’s a process to see if we can get him over.

“Hopefully again he can just add to that depth over a three-month period with big games and we have to fill two teams – one for Friday and one for Saturday.

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“Sometimes we won’t have enough players if we don’t add to that crucial position.”

Gloucester have been ravaged by injuries in the front row this season and Scotland international prop Kyle Traynor remains with the club, having been brought in on a short-term deal on a week-to-week basis.

Kyle Traynor of Gloucester Rugby is shown a yellow card

He is likely to be involved for Gloucester this weekend, either for the senior side against Leicester at Kingsholm on Friday depending on whether Val Rapava-Ruskin can overcome illness, or the United team who have a Premiership Rugby Shield game at Exeter on Saturday.

“He actually is basically at the moment, if we had to play, in the team so that’s how it was important to get him in as well," said Ackermann.

“Fair play to him, he’s settled in well, he’s got a great attitude, he’s knuckling down and he’s got a lot to add to the young boys, they can learn.

“Like I said, even if Val is 100 per cent fit we’ve got to put out a team on Saturday because they are playing another game that was missed and there’s still a lot of games ahead where we need the depth in that squad.”