Sharks' Bok joins exodus to Ulster

Ulster confirmed on Monday that evergreen Springbok Stefan Terblanche will join the growing shiver of Sharks in Belfast.

In a statement the Irish outfit said Terblanche will join them 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 Pro12 match against Treviso on October 7 and who faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines recovering.

Terblanche (36), who has been capped 37 times for the Springboks, made his final appearance for the Sharks in last Saturday’s Currie Cup Final against the Lions in Johannesburg.

He made his debut for the Sharks back in 1999 before joining Welsh franchise the 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 Durban-based outfit.

“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, but we delighted that we have been able to convince Stefan not to hang up his boots just yet.” said Ulster Director of Rugby David Humphreys

Despite the fact that Terblanche moves to Belfast on a short term contract, he should settle in quickly with former Sharks teammates Johann Muller and Ruan Pienaar in the squad.

In his 37 Tests for South Africa Terblanche scored 19 tries – including a South African Test record of four tries (equalled with Chester Williams and Pieter Rossouw) on debut against Ireland at Bloemfontein in 1998, which he later bettered by scoring a then record five tries against Italy on June 19, 1999.

Terblanche started his career under the tutelage of Nick Mallet at the Boland Cavaliers (66 caps).

He made his debut in 1999 for the Sharks and played for the Ospreys in Wales.

Terblanche then moved back to the Sharks for the 2007 Currie Cup season in South Africa. He played his return game for the Durban-based franchise at fullback and scored two tries and claimed man of the match in the Shark’s 32–16 defeat of Western Province.

This was also his 100th match played for the Sharks.

* The announcement of Terblanche’s departure came on the same day that worst-kept secret in Durban was “revealed”.

As rugby365.com has been reporting for weeks, Western Province centre Tim Whitehead – who missed their Currie Cup campaign with a knee injury – has signed with the Sharks.

The 23-year-old signed a two-year deal to move to Durban.

Whitehead is expected to fight it out with Meyer Bosman, Adrian Jacobs and Marius Joubert for a place in the Sharks’ midfield.

* Meanwhile, the Sharks also confirmed that the Du Plessis brothers, Bismarck and Jannie, will be available for them until the 2013 season.