Speaking last week, Les Kiss had fans and commentators speculating about the identity of a couple of 'exciting' signings to be announced over the next few weeks. Charles Piutau, Kieran Treadwell and Rodney Ah You have already been confirmed for next season and with at least two more players to be brought in, fans were understandably excited.
New Zealand's Victor Vito had been suggested as one such signing but he's taken the rather surprising decision to head to the lower reaches of the Top 14 with La Rochelle. The All Black flanker may have opted against joining Ulster but the province had looked set to announce the signing of South African back row Ryan Kankowski according to BBC.
With Nick Williams leaving to join the Cardiff Blues at the end of the season, Ulster's back row is need of some freshening up. Capable of playing as a flanker or at number eight, Kankowski would have been perfect but now it would appear that won't be happening.
BBC are now reporting that, although a South African back row forward will be joining Ulster, it won't be Kankowski. As of this moment, the exact identity of the South African in question is not known. Whomever he is, however, he will join a hefty South African contingent at the Kingspan Stadium.
With the likes of Pienaar and Van der Merwe making waves over the past few seasons, Ulster have announced that another import, in the form of utility back Louis Ludik, has signed a new contract with the province, a deal which could have implications for his Irish future next year.
