Ulster have completed the signing of South African prop forward Robbie Kempson. The 28-year-old Western Province Stormers loose-head has put pen to paper on a two-year deal.
Kempson, a member of the Barbarians squad for the upcoming tour of England, Scotland and Wales, will team up once more with coach Alan Solomons, who worked with Kempson at the Stormers.
The deal, an open secret in rugby circles for a number of weeks, had been conditional on Kempson passing a medical. The Sprinkbok prop, Kempson has represented his country on 31 occasions, underwent neck surgery and missed the Stormers entire Super 12 campaign and has not played since last November.
However, Kempson underwent thorough medical checks in Belfast and Dublin this week and Michael Reid, chief executive of the Ulster Branch, confirmed the deal today.
"Ulster Rugby is delighted to have signed a player of Robbie's international ability and would like to thank the IRFU for their assistance in helping to bring a player of his calibre to Ulster."