Bulls-bound loose forward Marcell Coetzee says he’ll reflect on his time at Ulster in Ireland with utmost gratitude for the opportunities the club gave him and the memories he shared with the fans.
Coetzee was set to leave the Irish region at the end of the European season having signed a three-year deal with the Bulls.
But earlier this month, it was confirmed that Ulster had granted Coetzee permission for an early release from his contract given the need for several weeks of rehabilitation following the hamstring injury he sustained in a PRO14 fixture against Leinster last month.
The 29-year-old joined Ulster in 2016 and became somewhat of a cult hero among the fans during his time in Belfast.
Coetzee took to Instagram to express his gratitude for the opportunities that came his way and thanked the backroom staff and his teammates for sharing the journey with him.
‘Just want to let everyone know that myself and Chanelle have arrived safely in South Africa but it will be a sin to not reflect back on the past years in Ireland with upmost [sic] gratitude to @officialulsterrugby and The Ulster fans,’ he posted.
‘It’s a chapter in my life I will never ever forget and will always be thankful for the memories shared on and off the field.
‘I’m really sorry about not ending the season on a high note with the boys, but unfortunately the injury limited my time with Ulster rugby.
‘Thank you for every message, positive and negative from every fan and critic. It helped me through tough times, as well as through good times.
‘I’m am sorry I couldn’t greet everyone personally but hopefully through this post will show my appreciation and passion for my time spend at Ulster.’
‘ONCE ULSTER MAN, ALWAYS AN ULSTER MAN #suftum.’
‘For now it’s not goodbye … it’s till I see u again.’
? @marcell_coetzee bids farewell to @UlsterRugby pic.twitter.com/2pScDNDBTS
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) April 21, 2021
Photo: Ulster Rugby
