Ulster’s head of operations Bryn Cunningham says the province moved to sign Duane Vermeulen in the hope the World Cup winner would influence the team off the pitch as much as he would on it.
Back row Vermeulen will link up with Ulster in late November after playing for the Barbarians against Samoa.
Speaking to the Ulster Rugby Show, Cunningham opened the door on the deal to bring the South African to Belfast.
“We knew straight away that a guy like that was going to bring a huge amount of value not just on the pitch but of it,” he said.
“And plus for the profile of the club having a guy of that stature, part of the number one side in the world, it’s big.”
Cunningham is hopeful the Springbok will enjoy his time in Belfast to the same extent some of his fellow countrymen like Louis Ludik and Robbie Diack, who have stayed in the city following their retirement from rugby.
“We know already we have a head start because the South African contingent seem to settle in very well here; they’ve always done well and they seem to settle here post- rugby,” he added.
