Last week, it looked like South African back row Ryan Kankowski was one of the promised 'exciting signings' that Ulster had been working on tying up according to Les Kiss. A 30 year old Springbok to come in and take over the mantle from the departing Nick Williams.
Common consensus agreed that it was a very good signing for Ulster, however, it quickly became clear that despite the fact that it had seemed that it was all done and dusted, Kankowski wouldn't be heading for the Kingspan Stadium after all. A South African back row had been lined up but it wasn't going to be Kankowski.
Ulster fans haven't had to wait too long to find out who it actually is and they certainly won't be disappointed. They had been expecting a 30 year old South African who had been out of the Springbok side since 2012 and instead they're getting a 24 year South African who is very much part of the future of the Springboks.
A knee injury ensured that Marcell Coetzee was one of the more surprising omissions from Heyneke Meyer's World Cup squad but, as Ireland found out back in 2014, he's certainly a force to be reckoned with and now it would seem he's on his way to Ulster.
The Belfast Telegraph are reporting that leave the Sharks this summer to head to Kingspan Stadium and join Charles Piutau in vastly improving the options open to Les Kiss and the Ulster coaches. Coetzee will also join fellow South Africans Ruan Pienaar and Franco van der Merwe with the departure of Williams meaning that the 24 year old flanker will fill up the provinces non-Irish qualified quota.
With Louis Ludik signing a new contract, there may be some sorting out to do with the issue of 'project players' and NIQs on Ulster's books but, if Coetzee is indeed on his way then it would appear that Ulster have something up their sleeves and fans are unlikely to mind one way or another if it means they're bringing in players of that quality from abroad.
According to the Telegraph, official confirmation of the deal is not expected until after the Super Rugby season kicks off at the end of February but, until then, Ulster fans can watch their expected new signing running through Jamie Heaslip back in November 2014.
