Ulster confirm signing of Jean Deysel

Pro 12 club Ulster have acquired the services of Jean Deysel ahead of the 2017/18 season.

Deysel made his professional rugby debut with Super Rugby side Sharks in 2008 and joined Japanese club Toyota Verblitz on loan at the end of the 2014 season. He also had a brief three month stint with Pro 12 side Munster on loan as an injury cover to Jean Kleyn.

His last appearance for Munster came in the Pro 12 final of the 2016/17 season against Scarlets which they went on to lose 22-46.

The 32-year-old has also been capped for South Africa four times between 2009 and 2011.

"I'm very pleased with this outcome as I think Jean will add real value to our squad both on and off the pitch," said Ulster operations director Bryn Cunningham.

"We had a sizeable list of potential targets, even at this late stage of the season, but we believed Jean would be the best fit because his attributes are exactly what we need moving forward.

"He is one of the strongest ball carriers in South African rugby and he really relishes the physical side of the game. He is abrasive and confrontational, with the ball and without the ball, as we have witnessed first-hand for Munster.

"Jean has captained the Sharks a number of times and that leadership ability and added experience will be important for us as we look to nurture some talented young forwards in our pathway.

"When you add in a fit-again Marcell (Coetzee), Schalk (van der Merwe) arriving to add strength to the front-row competition and guys like Kieran (Treadwell) and Sean (Reidy) continuing to excel, the signs are good for a more robust and dominant forward pack next season."