Springboks flanker Marcell Coetzee set to join Ulster

Ulster Rugby will confirm the signing of South African flanker Marcell Coetzee in the coming weeks according to media reports in the province.

Having completed a brief spell with Honda Heat in the Japanese league, the 28-times capped Springbok is set to arrive on a three-year deal following the conclusion of the Super Rugby season with the Sharks this summer.

Coetzee has almost a year and a half left on his current deal with the Sharks, but according to the Belfast Telegraph he is the man to fill the final non-Irish qualified spot after Nick Williams heads for Cardiff next season.

The province's director of rugby Les Kiss had promised fans an exciting high profile replacement for fan's favourite Williams, with Coetzee's Sharks teammate Ryan Kankowski initially being heavily linked with a move. Instead though the 24-year-old Coetzee looks set to join Springboks scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar and lock Franco van der Merwe, as well as fellow incoming talent Charles Piutau as the province's four NIQs for the 2016/17 campaign.

Official confirmation of the deal is not expected to come until after Coetzee’s final Super Rugby season with his hometown team has kicked off on February 27th.