Ulster have confirmed that veteran Sharks back Stefan Terblanche will join the Northern Ireland outfit on a three-month contract.
Short-term deal for Springbok veteran
Ulster have confirmed that veteran Sharks back Stefan Terblanche will join the Northern Ireland outfit on a three-month contract.
Ulster have been given dispensation to recruit a foreign player on a short-term basis to provide cover for Jared Payne, who ruptured his Achilles in the RaboDirect PRO12 match against Treviso on October 7.
The former Blues centre faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines as he rehabilitates from the injury.
Terblanche, 36, has been capped 37 times for the Springboks and made his final appearance for the Sharks in last Saturday's Currie Cup final against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg.
He made his debut for the Durban-based franchise back in 1999 before joining Ospreys in December 2003. He returned to South Africa, and the Sharks, for the 2007 Currie Cup season in which he made his 100th appearance for the side.
"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," said Ulster director of rugby David Humphreys.
"But we are delighted that we have been able to convince Stefan not to hang up his boots just yet."
Despite the fact that Terblanche comes to Belfast on a short term contract, he should settle in quickly with former Sharks team-mates Johann Muller and Ruan Pienaar in the squad.
His arrival at Ravenhill will depend on how long it will take to meet the requirements of the UK Border Agency,
