Ulster have signed Northampton Saints number eight Juarno Augustus on a three-year deal from next summer.

The 26-year-old South African helped Northampton win the Premiership title last season after joining the club from Western Province in 2021.

A former South Africa Under-20 international, Augustus was named 2017 World Rugby Junior Player of the Year after finishing that year's World Rugby Under-20 Championship as top try-scorer.

"I'm very excited to sign for such a historic club in Ulster Rugby. From my conversations, I believe in the project and can see the potential," said Augustus, who also previously played for the Stormers.

"It's exciting to be a part of that and I look forward to meeting my new coaches and team-mates in Belfast next summer. I have heard about the proud history of the province with South African players, so I will hopefully feel right at home."

Ulster general manager Bryn Cunningham said: "He has shown with Northampton Saints that he is a huge physical presence in the back row, with fantastic ball-carrying and a destructive threat around the breakdown.

"The modern game is so much about having a point of difference, particularly in explosiveness, and Juarno certainly has this."

Cunningham added: "At the core of our recruitment strategy over the coming years will be the continual development of our homegrown players supplemented with targeted acquisitions like Juarno, so we're delighted that he has decided to be part of our plans and are really excited about the impact he will have."