Ulster Rugby v Leinster

GETTING TO KNOW SCHALK VAN DER MERWE

As the tempo rises for tonight’s Inter-pro derby against old rivals Leinster, there is one Ulsterman who cannot wait to meet that Kingspan roar: South African prop, Schalk van der Merwe.

far has just been great, from where we stay and the people around us, to the team, it’s all been great. It’s the high point of everything when you come to work and love your work environment. I must say in all aspects, outside and inside, our experience of Ulster has just been awesome.” With his focus firmly on rugby and his own personal improvement, there is little time for missing home or reminiscing about his days of playing rugby on sun-soaked fields. “Obviously, when you’re far from home you miss your family and friends but I’ve got used to it. I’ve lived away for a long time, in France and with the [Southern] Kings and in Pretoria, so I got used to the idea of staying far away from family and I don’t miss South Africa at all. I can speak English and I can have a conversation at Ulster, in France I couldn’t do that so that makes it so much better. Ulster is a little bit farther from home than France but if you want to go visit South Africa, I can go visit so it suits us perfectly.” There was a lot of excitement at the start of the season about the changes to PRO14 with the addition of the South African sides and it is likely that Van der Merwe will come up against old team mates from either the Southern Kings or Cheetahs but the prospect doesn’t faze him. “I’m excited and hope to be going to play against the [Southern] Kings next week. I don’t how it’s going to go but I think it’s a good thing for them to be in the PRO14 and it’s a good thing for us playing in South Africa and I’m just looking forward to going there and playing rugby.” Van der Merwe, affectionately known as “hond” to his peers is excited to bring these skills to bear on the Ulster team. “The best thing about my first game with Ulster A was just putting on that jersey and knowing that it could turn into a couple of good years at Ulster for me and be the start of something good for my family and for me. I want to give everything to make this a ten-year journey if I can. I want to play

Van der Merwe signed for Ulster in June 2017 but, due to a shoulder injury he was forced to spend his first few months at the Province in recovery. He made his long-awaited debut playing for Ulster A against the Cornish Pirates last weekend and hopes to soon be ready to join the Senior squad. Speaking on his debut for Ulster, van der Merwe commented: “It’s been a long three months waiting to play. I’ve been working hard rehabbing but at least I got on the pitch last weekend and it went well. I played 72 minutes, which is long enough for the first match in four months, but I felt good. I didn’t have any problems, the shoulder is still on, it feels good and I’m ready to enjoy my journey at Ulster. “I was pleased enough with my form, for my first performance it was good but I hope that from here on it will just continue to get better and I’m just excited to get on the pitch with the senior team in the future.”

SCHALK VAN DER MERWE The loosehead prop joined Ulster from South African side Southern Kings, having previously played for the Golden Lions and Cheetahs in domestic South African rugby, for the Lions in Super Rugby and for Montpellier in the French Top14. He has experienced a variety of clubs and different cultures but, as he confides, Ulster comes out on top:

“I’ve played for different teams, with the Southern Kings, the Cheetahs and the Lions and I was in France as well. And I must say that the team and the supporters and everyone at Ulster is very enthusiastic and loving. Everyone at Ulster is like a family and myself and my family have had the best treatment. My recovery and the treatment I’ve received at Ulster Rugby has been the best and most professional treatment I’ve had at a club. It’s been great. I’ve been really focused on working hard and doing all that I can to get back on the pitch as soon as possible. “The whole Ulster culture and everything it offers is suiting our family so well and our experience so

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