French Top 14 club, Toulon, are considering replacing the injured Craig Burden with Cheetahs hooker Ryno Barnes.

Burden suffered a chest muscle injury earlier this month, and will likely be out of action for four to five months. According to reports in France, Toulon have already made an approach for Samoan hooker Mahonri Schwalger, who featured for the Chiefs during Super Rugby earlier this year.

Schwalger, who has played 40 Tests for Samoa, is currently undergoing a medical but concerns remain over problems with his back. Should he be deemed too much of a risk, Toulon are likely to move for the 33-year-old Barnes who recently featured for Griquas during the Currie Cup.

Barnes would likely join up with Toulon later this week as a medical joker, with the possibility that he might return prior to the 2015 Super Rugby season should the French side's injury list shorten.

If he were to make the move to the south of France, Barnes would become the seventh South African in Toulon's squad. The others are Burden, lock Bakkies Botha, scrumhalf Michael Claassens, wing Bryan Habana and loose forwards, Juan Smith and Gerhard Vosloo.

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