Ulster snap up Highlanders back Faddes

Cape Town - Ulster have announced that experienced Super Rugby back Matt Faddes will join the club next season from long-time franchise the Highlanders.

Faddes has represented his home province Otago since 2011 and is currently playing for the Highlanders, with whom he has scored 19 tries in 43 Super Rugby appearances. That includes 10 tries in the 2016 campaign, in which he finished as the competition’s joint second top try scorer.

The 27-year-old can play across the backline and also has international experience, having represented New Zealand at Sevens level. He is no stranger to Belfast, as he scored for the Barbarians against Fiji at Kingspan Stadium in November 2016.

Faddes revealed he was excited by the switch to Ulster, saying: “Both Georgie and I are looking forward to the experience of living and working in a new environment and the challenge that will provide. It’s exciting to consider the next chapter of my rugby career. When I visited in 2016, I was struck by the family, community feel to the club.”