Ulster are set to indirectly benefit from the awful situation at Worcester Warriors, with some major signings in the pipeline for the Ulstermen.
Reports on Friday in the Belfast Telegraph suggest that Scottish prop Rory Sutherland is set to sign for Ulster on a short term deal - which will pave the way for a World Cup winner to join the province after next year's tournament in France.
Sutherland's arrival is yet to be officially confirmed, but was initially broken by Bernard Jackman on Twitter.
I understand that Ulster rugby have signed former @WorcsWarriors loose head prop Rory Sutherland. Be a great addition to their squad and also lovely to see these players left high and dry get employment as quickly as possibles
— Bernard Jackman (@bernardjackman) October 6, 2022
When the Scottish international departs, Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff is set to arrive at Ravenhill.
Ulster to make major statement signing
Rory Sutherland - a British and Irish Lion from the 2021 tour of South Africa - will be a tremendous addition to the Ulster squad.
Sutherland's former club Worcester have been suspended indefinitely from all competitions in England, and relegated to the second division, after dire financial troubles saw the club liquidated on Wednesday.
It is a shocking and upsetting situation for the club, and their players are left searching for clubs midway through the season, with their contracts void as a result of the liquidation of Worcester.
Sutherland seems to have settled on Ulster as his destination - as has Springbok Steven Kitshoff, for next season.
Kitshoff - who faced off with Sutherland on that 2021 Lions tour - is a World Cup winner, having come off the bench in the 2019 final win over England for South Africa.
The report in the Belfast Telegraph says that Kitshoff will join Ulster immediately after the 2023 edition of the World Cup in France. Kitshoff's South Africa will face off with Ireland in the pool phase, in one of the biggest games of the early stages of the competition.
21 September 2019; Steven Kitshoff, left, and Tendai Mtawarira of South Africa following their defeat in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between New Zealand and South Africa at the International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
The arrival of a World Cup winner, and the temporary signing of Rory Sutherland, are massive statements from Ulster, and will bolster their squad. They will hope Sutherland, and then Kitshoff, can spur them on to their first trophy since the 2006 Celtic League.
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