Scarlets have signed Irish hooker John McKee to help fill the void left by departing South Africa international Marnus van der Merwe.

McKee, 26, is behind Ireland and British and Irish Lions duo Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher in the Leinster pecking order.

The new recruit will compete with Wales hooker Ryan Elias next season with van der Merwe joining Munster.

“This is a fresh slate for me, I have loved my time with Leinster but like every rugby player, you want to be playing regularly,” said McKee.

“I’m buzzing about the move. The opportunity to join the Scarlets was one that excited me straight away.”

McKee, a former Ireland Under-20s international, was born in Belfast and started in the Ulster age-grade pathway before joining Leinster.

“John is a player who fits exactly the type of profile we want in this squad,” said Scarlets interim director of rugby Nigel Davies.

“He comes from an outstanding environment at Leinster where standards are exceptionally high and we believe that experience will be hugely valuable for us.”