Stefan Terblanche is Sharks legend © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Stefan Terblanche

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Teams: Sharks | South Africa | Ulster

Ulster have signed former Springboks centre Stefan Terblanche on loan after losing Jared Payne to a serious Achilles injury.

Terblanche, who lined out for the Natal Sharks in last weekend's Currie Cup final defeat by the Golden Lions, has penned a three-month contract with the province.

"At this stage in the season with players all under contract it was always going to be difficult to recruit a high-calibre individual to provide cover for Jared, but we delighted that we have been able to convince Stefan not to hang up his boots just yet." said Ulster Director of Rugby David Humphreys.

As well as having to persuade the 36-year-old Terblanche to postpone his retirement, Ulster also had to request special dispensation to sign another foreign player but permission was granted on account of the fact that New Zealander Payne, who only arrived in Belfast this summer, is expected to be out of action for a "considerable period of months" after rupturing his Achilles in the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Treviso on October 7.

Terblanche, who was capped 37 times by South Africa, must now await clearance from the United Kingdom Border Agency before linking up with Ulster and his former Sharks team-mates Johann Muller and Ruan Pienaar.