Ulster finalise Steven Kitshoff signing on a three-year deal

Steven Kitshoff will join Ulster on a three-year contract after the 2023 World Cup, the province confirmed this afternoon.

Ulster had hinted that the loosehead prop and World Cup winner was on the cusp of moving to Ireland.

Last month they announced the arrival of Rory Sutherland and also confirmed that talks were at an advanced stage with a player they said was a "proven winner on the biggest stage".

It was soon established to be Kitshoff and he joins from the DHL Stormers.

The 30-year-old, who has made 73 appearances for his country, will make Ulster his home until at least the summer of 2026.

The front-rower has played most of his professional career in South Africa, with early success coming as part of the Western Province team that won the 2012 Currie Cup.

He has made the number one jersey at the Stormers his own as captain of the club, which came after an overseas spell in France for Bordeaux Begles from 2015 to 2017.

With Sutherland already showcasing his value in bolstering the club’s front row in a win over Munster recently, Kitshoff is also set to play his part in developing Ulster’s young front-rowers as well as making his own impact.

Kitshoff said: "It's clear that Ulster is on an exciting journey, and it’s one that I want to be a part of. With some big wins recently, it’s my ambition to be part of the squad that takes that next step and secures silverware for the province.

"I’m really looking forward to making the move to Belfast next year. It’s going to be a change, but I know, from everything I’ve heard, that when I line out for the first time in front of a home crowd at Kingspan Stadium in an Ulster jersey, it’s going to be a really special moment."

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland feels a "world-class" player is