Toulouse have responded to a spate of front row absences by signing former Argentina international Eusebio Guinazu as a medical  joker, the French champions announced on their website on Tuesday.

Already without props Jean-Baptiste Poux, Gurthro Steenkamp and Census Johnston and hooker William Servat, all of whom are on World  Cup duty, they are also missing South African prop Daan Human who will be out for three months with an arm injury.

   “Following the serious injury to Daan Human, Toulouse began the search for a prop,” the club said in a statement.

   “It must be said that this twist of fate, combined with the absence of several major players to the World Cup left us little choice.

   “Hence we settled on Eusebio Guinazu who signed for the club on Tuesday and has already taken part in his first training session.”   

The 29-year-old Guinazu, who can play either prop or hooker, has  previous experience of playing in France, having already turned out  for Toulon, Agen and last season Biarritz. He has also played for Stormers in the Super 14.

   Guinazu played for the Pumas in the third-place match against France at the 2007 World Cup.