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FRANCO VAN DER MERWE
I’m sure it’s an emotional time saying farewell
to a club that you have been a part of for a
number of years now?
Yes it is. I’ve been here for three years now and
I’ve got a lot of good memories. From day one we
have thoroughly enjoyed our time here and it will
always be a special place for us. Off the field our
first daughter was born here and we will never
forget that.
What would you say are your highlights?
Off the field, definitely the fact that our daughter
was born here and also the first time I ran out
onto the pitch and heard the SUFTUM song,
that was really unexpected. I didn’t know about
the song until earlier that week
and someone said I was in
for a surprise. When I ran out
and there was a full crowd
and everyone was standing
up and singing SUFTUM, I got
goosebumps all over, so that
was a pretty good highlight.
But also there is the players,
the staff, the management, the
supporters, everyone – people
have been really supportive
to us over the last three years, which has been
great.
What was your favourite game to play in?
I would have to say the away game against
Toulouse. That was probably one of the games
we were at our best and to go to France to
Toulouse and beat them was a great feeling.
First of all we played them here and won, that was
really good - but then to do it again, to go away
and beat them there was unbelievable.
What will you miss the most?
The people, the players especially, as we spend
almost every single day together. Sometimes I
spend more time with them than I do with my
wife and my family. When we go to away games
there is a lot of craic and every day in training we
have a laugh so it’s really the friendships I have
developed with the guys that I will miss the most.
You’ve really embraced life here in Belfast, I’m
sure it will hold a special place in your heart?
It’s only been three years but it feels like I’ve been
a part of the club for much longer than that. I
think it’s because it’s such a well-supported and
well-structured organisation. If you take from the
top management all the way down to the players,
you know the way it’s run that it's a really good
club to be a part of. We have world class facilities
so to come here and be part of Ulster and to
realise what the guys are playing for makes it
special every single time you wear the white
jersey.
Have you got a favourite place here?
We have travelled a lot here in
Ulster. We have been to the
Causeway, up to Portrush and
Dunluce Castle. Every time
family or friends come over we
take them up North so that is
one of our favourite places to
go to and some of our favourite
restaurants are up there too.
Is Ulster what you expected
it to be?
When I signed, I didn’t even know where I was
going to. There is a town in South Africa also
called Belfast but it isn’t even close to what
Belfast is like here. Everything is so green here
but I didn’t expect anything. When I got here
I was blown away by the friendly people, the
amazing city, just everything about Belfast, I really
have enjoyed every minute.
What does the future hold for you?
I’m not 100% sure what is going to happen after
Cardiff but I am going to be playing there for the
next while, after that I will have to see. I might
have another year or two left in me, I might go
back to South Africa and start a new career
and maybe grow the family in the next couple of
years. We are looking forward to the future but
there is one more hurdle against Leinster this
weekend that we need to get over so I’ll park the
thought of Cardiff for another few weeks.
Good Luck Franco!
FAREWELL FRANCO