ULSTER RUGBY HAVE announced the signing of South African prop Wiehahn Herbst on a three-year contract. The 25-year-old tight-head has been signed from Super Rugby side Sharks and will join the province in a three-year deal over the summer.
Herbst, who should prove to be a long-term replacement for Gloucester-bound John Afoa, has played 37 matches for the Sharks since his senior debut in 2009. He previously played at Ravenhill having featured for the Springboks U19 side in the Junior World Championship of 2007.
He commented, “Ulster Rugby is a province on the up and for me it was just a great opportunity to develop my career and to take it to the next level.
The team is doing extremely well at the moment and with the stadium being redeveloped there is a great set-up at Ravenhill — it will be exciting to be part of.”
Ulster’s director of rugby, David Humphreys said, “I am delighted that Wiehahn has decided to join Ulster. He is a highly talented young player with a proven track-record in a specialist position.
“I have no doubt that he will be a huge success at the Province and that he will follow in the footsteps of the other overseas players that have come to Ravenhill in making a major contribution to the success of Ulster Rugby.”
Great picture of him
Is he a project player?
Must be he has not represented the Springboks at senior or A level
Not sure. Irish squad appears to have plenty of front row. Murphy and Herbst appear to be direct replacements for Court and Afoa in terms of the depth of their experience, both 26 and 25 and playing Super Rugby.
I’d say he is a development player he is quiet young to be first choice tight head will be interesting to see where Fitzpatrick and lutton fit in when he arrives at ulster. I wonder why they signed such a young guy when they could give that development time to a young Irish prop like lutton???!!!