Diack to leave Ulster

Ulster forward Robbie Diack is to leave Ireland at the end of the season after the province confirmed he will be returning to South Africa.

Having spent a decade in Belfast, the two-times capped Ireland international became the first person born outside of Ulster to make 200 appearances for the province in October 2017.

"When I first came to Ulster in 2008 I had signed a three-year contract and I never imagined that 10 years down the line I’d still be here," he said. 

"Of course I’m very sad to be leaving Ulster, but we feel the time has now come for my family and me to return to South Africa to be closer to family and friends.

"It has been a huge honour for me to play for Ulster and to have earned over 200 caps is something that my family and I are all very proud of. I’ve realised what it means to play for Ulster and I’ve witnessed the pride and passion of our fans on a weekly basis. 

"I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had and the memories that I’ve made here, and I’m thankful to the people who have supported me along the way."

The 32-year-old has no thoughts of retirement however and is hoping to continue his rugby career in the Southern Hemisphere.

"While we have quite a few things to keep us occupied in South Africa, I feel that I still have a lot to offer as a professional rugby player. I will be assessing several options on and off the rugby field over the forthcoming months."

Credit: Rte.ie