Wednesday 31 August 2016 17:12, UK
South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar will leave Ulster Rugby at the end of the 2016/17 season.
Pienaar has scored 777 points in 118 games since joining from the Sharks in 2010 and helped Ulster reach the 2012 Heineken Cup final.
The Belfast club were keen for the 32-year-old to extend his stay but a contract extension was not possible due to the IRFU's succession policy.
"I am not moving on for a new adventure or for financial reasons - I wanted to stay and I know that Ulster Rugby did everything it could to keep me in Belfast," Pienaar told the club's website.
"Ulster is special to me and my family now, and I would like to thank my wife, Monique, for coming here to support me and for helping to make it home for us.
"I would also like to thank all of the players and staff at Ulster Rugby, the supporters and the general public, for their support and encouragement since our arrival.
"I have many great memories of my time here and I have made some brilliant friends within rugby and outside of it. It is sad that this will be my last season as an Ulster player but I will be doing everything to ensure that we make it a successful campaign."
Director of rugby Les Kiss said Pienaar's departure will be a "huge loss".
"Ruan has been an outstanding servant to Ulster Rugby over the past six years and he will be a huge loss for us next season.
"For me, he is a fantastic player, but he is an even better person, who is much-loved by his team-mates, the staff and management, and the wider rugby community here in Ulster.
"His influence within the squad, both on and off the field, is truly remarkable; whether that is through match-winning contributions, or mentoring the promising players coming through our pathway.
"Indeed, he has played a big part in helping us to develop a large group of talented young backline players who have gone on to represent Ireland in recent years."
