The South African influx at Ulster continuea unabated as they have been granted permission to sign 36 year old utility back Stefan Terblanche on a short term deal.
The province had already recruited the maximum of five overseas players in their squad but special dispensation has been allowed owing to the injury to Jared Payne, who ruptured his Achilles in the embarrassing 12 -23 defeat to Treviso at Ravenhill on October 7th.
Terblanche has been capped 37 times by the Springboks and is winding down his career after playing his final game for the Natal Sharks in Saturday’s Currie Cup defeat to the Golden Lions in Johannesburg.
David Humphreys, Director of Rugby at the northern province, admitted that there were plenty of constraints involved in their search for back line cover:
"At this stage in the season, with players all under contract it was always going to be difficult to recruit a high-calibre individual to provide cover for Jared, but we delighted that we have been able to convince Stefan not to hang up his boots just yet."
Terblanche has appeared in previous incarnations of the Rabo Direct Pro12 league having spent four seasons with the Neath Swansea Ospreys before returning to Natal in 2007.
Ulster have had plenty of Springboks in their ranks in recent seasons with BJ Botha (now at Munster) Pedrie Wannenburg and Robbie DIack all hailing from the Rainbow Nation. But the presence of Ruan Pienaar and Johann Muller will make the move even smoother for Terblanche as the trio were previously teammates at the Sharks.
Terblanche’s arrival date in Belfast will depend on how soon UK immigration can ratify his work permit.
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