ULSTER HAVE ANNOUNCED that they have agreed to release Marcell Coetzee from his contract early, with the South African now set to depart the province at the end of April.

Coetzee was due to leave Ulster at the end of the season having signed a three-year deal with South Africa’s Blue Bulls, despite having a year left to run on his contract at the Kingspan.

But the backrow will now leave the club on Friday, 30 April, with Ulster granting him an early release in order to rehab a hamstring injury.

Coetzee, 29, sustained the injury in last month’s Pro14 defeat to Leinster, which will now represent his last game for Ulster.