Ulster have announced South African utility back Louis Ludik has signed a contract extension.

29-year-old Ludik, who joined Ulster from French side Agen in 2014, has made 11 starts for Les Kiss’s side this season.

Ludik will become Irish-qualified next summer, and his new deal follows the signings of Charles Pitau and Rodney Ah You, as well as the contract extension signed by Franco van der Merwe.

On the announcement of his new deal, Ludik said: “I feel very blessed to be staying here at Ulster. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far as it’s a really nice environment to be in. The people are awesome; they are welcoming and friendly and they have made us feel very much at home.

“There’s a great atmosphere in the squad and the professionalism of the whole organisation is fantastic. I’ve no doubt that the future is bright here at Ulster and it’s something I want to be involved in.

Meanwhile Ulster Operations Director, Bryn Cunningham, said the deal represented a major boost for the province: "Re-signing Louis Ludik is a fantastic outcome for Ulster Rugby as he provides so much to the province both on and off the field.

"As Louis becomes Irish-qualified in the summer of 2017, I want to thank the IRFU and David Nucifora for understanding the very clear rationale for allowing us to retain his services."