Rugby:Pedrie Wannenburg will leave Ulster this summer with the South African back row expected to take up an offer to continue his career in France. Wannenburg, who joined Ulster from the Blue Bulls at the start of last season, became an integral part of the side in his short time at Ravenhill.

He will remain in Belfast until the end of the season with Ulster due to take on Munster in the quarter-finals at the start of April while Brian McLaughlin’s side lie just one point outside the play-off places in the Rabodirect Pro12.

"While we're announcing now that Pedrie will be leaving us come the end of the season it does seem premature to be wishing him, his wife Evette and baby daughter Isabelle well at this stage as I know he remains absolutely committed to our cause as we enter the 'business-end' of the season," Ulster's director of rugby, David Humphreys, said this afternoon. Ulster will finalise their squad make-up next season in the coming weeks.