Magners League
Ulster sign All Black Afoa
ESPNscrum Staff
March 16, 2011
All Blacks prop John Afoa prepares to pass during training at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand, July 2, 2010
Ulster have signed All Black John Afoa © Getty Images
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Ulster have quickly filled the void left by the departure of BJ Botha, signing All Black prop John Afoa on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The 27-year-old tight-head, groomed as a potential option at hooker by New Zealand, will join Ulster from the Blues at the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup, having won 30 Test caps to date.

Springboks prop Botha will leave the province at the end of the season to join their rivals Munster.

"I've been part of the Blues family for my entire career so far and so, when the opportunity to look at a move came up, I felt that period post World Cup would be the perfect time," Afoa said.

"I've done my research and can't help but be impressed at how the Ulster squad is developing. There's seems to be a good mix of local and overseas players and I'm very much looking forward to playing my part in that. I want to challenge myself and the northern hemisphere style of play will certainly offer me that.

"Most of the players moving north state that the chance to participate in the Heineken Cup as one of the key factors in their decision and the same is true for me, but since the possibility of a move came up I've also caught some of the Magners League and that looks like a competition that is going from strength to strength."

Ulster rugby director David Humphreys added: "We have deliberately looked for high-quality, international players in key positions. In John, we believe we've got it absolutely right. He's a hugely-talented player, both at set-piece and in the loose, and he will bring a huge amount of Super Rugby and international experience to Ulster."

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