Ulster confirm the departure of Marcell Coetzee

December 26, 2020
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Ultimate Rugby

Marcell Coetzee is set to join the Bulls after the Pretoria franchise posted on social media saying they will make a ‘BIG’ announcement on Monday, December 28.

The teaser from the Bulls social media post described him as the “biggest festive gift” for the fan base.

However, fans were quick to identify the new signing as the Springbok loose forward who is currently plying his trade with Irish Province Ulster.

🤩 pic.twitter.com/eVvMrDnVfN
— Dorfling Terblanche (@DorflingT) December 25, 2020

Coetzee signed an extension with Ulster in 2019 which would keep him at Kingspan until at least the summer of 2022.

However, it looks as if he will be released from the final year of his contract to join the Bulls or that the franchise has bought him out of his final year.

Coetzee will join the likes of Duane Vermeulen, Marco van Staden, Arno Botha and Nizaam Carr as the Bulls' Springbok back row stock.

UPDATE:

Ulster confirmed the departure of Coetzee on Saturday (26 December) with the following statement.

Ulster Rugby and back-row, Marcell Coetzee, have reached an agreement to allow the player to return home to South Africa at the end of the 2020/21 season.

Having returned home during the first lockdown period in the summer, the 29-year-old expressed a strong desire to remain in South Africa amidst the ongoing uncertainty around the Coronavirus pandemic. On return to Belfast, the back-row remained committed to finding a route home at the conclusion of his fifth season at Kingspan Stadium.

Today’s announcement – and the terms agreed for Coetzee’s release – enables Ulster Rugby and Head Coach Dan McFarland to move forward with recruitment for a long-term replacement.

Head Coach, Dan McFarland, said: “Marcell has been a great performer for us on and off the field and I’m sure he will continue to bring his high-performance standards through until June.

“We have a talented squad that is growing in experience. We are looking to supplement and support that talent, particularly in the forwards, in line with our ambition to consistently compete for championships.”

Coetzee said: “It all started during lockdown when I was back home for four months. My wife and I did a lot of thinking together about life and we also reflected on where I am in my career.

“We decided to come back to Belfast with an open mind, but ultimately we miss home, the South African culture and way of life – and after five seasons the longing for home has just caught up with us.

“I must say Ulster have been absolutely superb to me, on and off the field during my career, and I feel I have grown as a person and as a player for the experiences the club has given me. Ulster will always have a special place in the hearts of my wife and I.”