Ulster have announced the signing of Exeter Chiefs stalwart Dave Ewers in an impressive coup for the United Rugby Championship outfit.
The powerful back-row will arrive next season and is set to bring his physicality and nous to Ulster after years of success at the Chiefs.
Ewers, 32, can play on the flank or at number eight and has featured 226 times and won the Premiership and Champions Cup in 2020.
Terrific career at Exeter Chiefs
He is also no stranger to European rugby, making his debut back in 2010 with consistent performances following in the seasons to come.
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland is delighted to secure the services of the ball-carrying back-row and looks forward to Ewers‘ arrival.
“Dave has demonstrated over a terrific career at Exeter that he loves to carry ball, and is one of the top gainline winning forwards in the Premiership,” he said.
“His size, work-rate, and skill-set will dovetail nicely with our other back-rows.
“We look forward to welcoming him to Ulster to add depth and further experience to our back-row, as we remain firmly focussed on our ambitions as a squad.”
Ewers added: “Ulster is a proud club with a reputation on the pitch which reaches far and wide, and I look forward to calling myself one of the Ulster men from next season onwards.
“I have made many memories with Exeter Chiefs over the years, and now I’m excited to see what this next chapter in my career holds as part of a club with big goals.”
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The departure of Ewers at the end of the season comes after news that Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds would also be leaving Exeter.
Happy memories at Sandy Park
While excited about the next chapter in his career, Ewers was obviously sad to be leaving the Chiefs which has been his home for so long.
“Obviously, I’m gutted to be leaving the Chiefs. It has been my life for so many years and I’ve been blessed to have made so many happy memories, as well as life-long friends,” he told the Exeter website.
“To sum up all those years in words is incredibly tough to do, but it’s been an unbelievable journey and one that I am very proud to have been part of. Like all good things, they have to come an end at some stage and now I have a new chapter in my career to look forward to with Ulster.
“Between now and then, I have a big job to do here at the Chiefs and I will be doing everything I can to ensure that my final months with Exeter are the best they can be.”