Ulster flank Robbie Diack will return to South Africa after spending the last decade at the club.

Diack made 16 appearances for the Stormers in Super Rugby, before joining Ulster in 2008, and became the first player born outside of Ulster to make 200 appearances for the club.

The 32-year old won two caps for Ireland during their 2014 tour of Argentina.

Diack’s departure continues something of an exodus for the Irish club, following Andrew Trimble’s retirement and the sacking of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.

‘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,’ Diack said in a statement.

‘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.’

Photo: www.ulsterrugby.com