It was big news when, all the way back in November 2022, Ulster Rugby announced the signing of South African international and 2019 World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff.

The Prop is set to play a crucial role in both Ulster’s domestic and Champions Cup campaigns, having famously been a part of South Africa’s title winning “bomb squad” pack of forwards at the 2019 World Cup.

Kitshoff will be hoping to make a similarly explosive impact with Ulster, joining from DHL Stormer, with whom he made four EPCR Champions cup appearances last season and crossed against Harlequins in a pool stage match.

He previously played in the competition with French side Union Bordeaux-Bègles, meaning he has a total of 11 appearances in EPCR’s leading competition.

Ulster have also made another big signing in the form of back-row Dave Ewers, who leaves Exeter Chiefs for Belfast.

Able to play on the flank or at number eight, the arrival of him and Kitshoff will provide a boost to Ulster’s pack ahead of their first Pool 2 fixture at Bath on Saturday December 9.

Ewers lifted the 2020 Champions Cup title with Exeter, making nine appearances that campaign which included starting in the final against Racing 92. In total he has made 31 appearances in the competition, and will now face a new challenge with Ulster.

Ahead of the 2023/24 Champions Cup, we’re highlighting the big names who were on the move this summer and will be wearing new colours when the competition gets underway in December.