Vodacom Bulls-bound Springbok loose forward Marcell Coetzee has been granted permission for an early release from his Ulster contract.

Coetzee was set to leave the Irish region at the end of the European season having signed a three-year deal with the Bulls.

But in a statement released on Tuesday, Ulster announced that Coetzee will now leave on 30 April given the need for several weeks of rehabilitation following the hamstring injury he sustained in a PRO14 fixture against Leinster last month.

Commenting on Coetzee’s departure, Ulster’s head of rugby operations and recruitment, Bryn Cunningham, said: ‘We have come to an agreement that will allow Marcell the time and space required to continue his rehab.’

‘I’d like to thank Marcell for his contribution to the province over the past five years and we wish him and wife, Chanelle, the very best for their upcoming return home to South Africa.’

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