Ulster have eyes on South African backrow Marcell Coetzee

The 24-year-old Sharks Super Rugby player is believed to be the favoured target of a number of backrow potentials being sought to replace Nick Williams who leaves this summer to join PRO12 side Cardiff Blues.

All Black Liam Messam had also been linked to the Kingspan Stadium based club, but Coetzee’s versatility would make him a more attractive prospect given his ability to play right across the backrow and the IRFU’s understandable desire to ensure there are pathways in place for homegrown talent to progress.

Coetzee, who will captain the Sharks tomorrow night against Top 14 side Toulouse as part of the South African club’s tour of France has just finished a season with Honda Heat in the Japanese League.

Those leadership qualities at such a young age - Ulster’s Jared Payne had captained the Auckland Blues when he was 24 - would also make him a perfect fit in the Ulster squad.

With 28 South African caps, Coetzee’s experience would prove invaluable in helping with the continued development of young Ulster Academy backrow forwards, Stephen Mulholland and Lorcan Dow, who have already played Guinness PRO12 rugby this season.

If Coetzee can be captured it would be a major coup for Ulster operations director, Bryn Cunningham who recently confirmed Harlequins and Irish qualified lock, Kieran Treadwell would join the current Guinness PRO 12 leaders over the summer and South Africans Franco van der Merwe and Louis Ludik were staying on for a further season.

With All Black back Charles Piutau already confirmed as arriving next summer, Coetzee would fill a void in the pack and give Ulster a strong squad which would enable them to compete against the big money spending clubs from England and France.