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Cape Town - Springbok lock Franco van der Merwe has arrived at his new club Ulster excited by the challenge lying in wait.
The 31-year-old arrived at the Irish club this week after finishing his duties with the Lions.
"Moving out of South Africa to somewhere totally new is the biggest step of my career,” he told Ulster's official website.
“My wife and I are so excited to come to Ulster. We have heard so many good things from previous players, from Johann (Muller) and Ruan (Pienaar), everyone is just so positive and they speak so well about the province."
In terms of his own game, Van der Merwe says he won't change much.
"There is no reason for me to come here and to try and reinvent the wheel. I can only do the basics. I am here because of what I did in South Africa so I am going to do the same things again.”
Van der Merwe spent eight years at the Lions and played one Test for the Springboks against the All Blacks at Ellis Park last year.
The 31-year-old arrived at the Irish club this week after finishing his duties with the Lions.
"Moving out of South Africa to somewhere totally new is the biggest step of my career,” he told Ulster's official website.
“My wife and I are so excited to come to Ulster. We have heard so many good things from previous players, from Johann (Muller) and Ruan (Pienaar), everyone is just so positive and they speak so well about the province."
In terms of his own game, Van der Merwe says he won't change much.
"There is no reason for me to come here and to try and reinvent the wheel. I can only do the basics. I am here because of what I did in South Africa so I am going to do the same things again.”
Van der Merwe spent eight years at the Lions and played one Test for the Springboks against the All Blacks at Ellis Park last year.
