Rugby:Cardiff's Xavier Rush has signed for Ulster in a two-year deal. The backrow forward will join Johann Muller at Ravenhill when the pair meet up with their new team-mates for pre-season training at the start of July.
Rush (32) has been capped eight times for the All-Blacks and left the Auckland Blues to join Cardiff in 2005. The Kiwi brings a wealth of experience to the Ulster set-up and has amassed almost 100 appearances in the Heineken Cup and Magners League (96).
"Xavier will be a great asset to the Ulster back row,” said Ulster head coach Brian McLaughlin. “He is an aggressive, attacking player, who has played his rugby at the highest level.
"He is a big hitter on the field and has been instrumental in Cardiff Blues success in recent seasons. The management team is delighted to have a player of Xavier's calibre join our squad ahead of next season.
"The experience that Xavier will bring with him, is of great value and importance to the Ulster squad now, and in-terms of future team development. Having players of his talent about, help raise the bar for everyone, and develop our young players to the levels required to play Magners League and Heineken Cup rugby."
Rush said was looking forward to a new challenge and working with an up and coming side like Ulster. "I am delighted to have signed with Ulster, and I am looking forward to becoming a part of a team that has some great young players and plenty of ambition,” he said.
"The five years that I spent at Cardiff were terrific, but I felt like it was the right time for a change and a new challenge, and moving to a vibrant city like Belfast is going to provide me with that.
"Also, being on the right side of the Ulster fans for once is going to be great and I now look forward to making the move, getting out on the field and becoming an Ulsterman."
Rush captained the Auckland Blues to National Provincial Championship (NPC) success in 2002 plus victory in the Ranfurly Shield and Super 12 title in 2003.