Cape Town - Springbok and Sharks flanker Marcell Coetzee is reportedly close to joining PRO12 side Ulster for the 2016/17 season.
Coetzee is set to sign a three-year deal with Ulster rather than take up a new contract offer from the South African Rugby Union and the Sharks, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
The 24-year-old recently returned from a short stint with Honda Heat in Japan and still has almost a year and a half left on his current deal with the Sharks.
But that is set to change as the 28-times capped Springbok is now heading towards the Ravenhill-based outfit to fill Ulster's final non-Irish qualified spot, taking over from back-row Nick Williams who is heading to Cardiff Blues.
Coetzee was a regular member of the Springboks squad in 2014 and 2015 but missed out on the Rugby World Cup due to a knee injury.
He is currently in France on a pre-season tour with the Sharks and official confirmation of his move to Ulster is set to be made once the Super Rugby season starts later this month.
The Sharks take on the Kings in their tournament opener in Port Elizabeth on February 27.