Jean Deysel is in line to make his Ulster debut in the pre-season clash against Wasps at Kingspan Stadium tonight. We caught up with the powerful back row player ahead of the game.
The pre-season friendly between Ulster Rugby and Wasps kick-off at 7.30pm on Thursday 17th August at Kingspan Stadium. Tickets are available on the gate from 6.00pm.
How did you move to Ulster come about?
I was with Munster for three months at the end of last season and would have gone back to the Sharks as I was still on a contract with them, but because I was there for 10 years of my life it was quite an easy thing to ask them to allow me come to Ulster.
This all came in the last three weeks of the PRO12 and I was really over the moon as I’d always heard good things about Ulster. I have a lot of friends who’ve played here or are still playing here, so it was quite an easy decision.
Did you speak with any of the players before signing?
I spoke to Marcell (Coetzee) and Wiehahn (Herbst) first but I couldn’t get a word in as they were so excited I could come here, so I couldn’t explain to them the whole situation yet.
I spoke a lot to Ruan (Pienaar) and he was quite good for me. He had nothing but good things to say about the club and we’ve got similar values - we are family people. He told me that I wouldn’t regret the decision.
For me it was always on the cards and every time I spoke with Johann (Muller), Ruan, or BJ (Botha) when they were back home, they always had good things to say about the club.
And it made it a little bit easier with Marcell, Wiehahn and Louis (Ludik) at the club.
What have your first impressions been like?
I think the reality is exceeding my expectations. It’s a beautiful stadium and pitch. I’ve seen it on the TV but it’s the first time I’ve had anything to do with it behind the scenes. The staff are excellent and the facilities are all state-of-the-art. The way you are treated by the people at the stadium but also about the town, is brilliant. It’s exceeded every expectation I had.
How are your family settling into life here?
My wife is here and I have a boy who is three-years-old.
They are settling in well. The only thing for my boy is that he can’t understand that he has to wear shoes all the time.
We have to force them on his feet because he doesn’t understand why.
How have you found working with the new Head Coach Jono Gibbes?
He is making us work hard but he’s also a character and he makes it fun as well.
When he’s serious, he’s serious and I’m also excited to work with him as this will be the first time that I’ve got to work with him.
Have you any preference for position across the back row?
It’s the other way around back home, six is seven and seven is six.
I’m comfortable six, seven or eight but if I do have a preference I’ll play six as I’ve played there the most.
At the end of the day I just want to get on the park.
You sound very excited to link up with Marcell Coetzee. Have you any idea how the combinations might work between you?
Yes, it’s good to be in the same environment again but we haven’t been told about the combinations yet.
It’s good to be working with him again and he takes a lot of load off me and I took a lot of load off him back home so hopefully we can continue that with a different jersey on.
I’m sure you’re also very pleased to see Marcell fighting back to full fitness?
I’ve been down that road as well as I know exactly how he feels so we talk a lot about it. He’ll come to me and say he’s feeling this way so what must he do.
For him he’s come a long way since then. He’s just like a racehorse who’s been pinned down and he just wants to get out.
So I must keep him calm as well but he’ll be good and ready to get out.
Will it be a strange experience for you to see South African teams play in the PRO14?
I think it will be more strange for the others guys than for me playing against them.
It will be interesting to see how they do in the conditions up here and how Irish teams or whoever do in the conditions down in South Africa.
But I’m really excited for them they are very proud unions and they want to make a mark in their first year.
Do you think the South African people will embrace the new format?
I do, they are such a hungry, rugby-based people.
I think it might be slow in the beginning and as soon as they start to know the teams up here, it will go from strength to strength on a supporters’ base back home.
The pre-season friendly between Ulster Rugby and Wasps kick-off at 7.30pm on Thursday 17th August at Kingspan Stadium. Tickets are available on the gate from 6.00pm.
How did you move to Ulster come about?
I was with Munster for three months at the end of last season and would have gone back to the Sharks as I was still on a contract with them, but because I was there for 10 years of my life it was quite an easy thing to ask them to allow me come to Ulster.
This all came in the last three weeks of the PRO12 and I was really over the moon as I’d always heard good things about Ulster. I have a lot of friends who’ve played here or are still playing here, so it was quite an easy decision.
Did you speak with any of the players before signing?
I spoke to Marcell (Coetzee) and Wiehahn (Herbst) first but I couldn’t get a word in as they were so excited I could come here, so I couldn’t explain to them the whole situation yet.
I spoke a lot to Ruan (Pienaar) and he was quite good for me. He had nothing but good things to say about the club and we’ve got similar values - we are family people. He told me that I wouldn’t regret the decision.
For me it was always on the cards and every time I spoke with Johann (Muller), Ruan, or BJ (Botha) when they were back home, they always had good things to say about the club.
And it made it a little bit easier with Marcell, Wiehahn and Louis (Ludik) at the club.
What have your first impressions been like?
I think the reality is exceeding my expectations. It’s a beautiful stadium and pitch. I’ve seen it on the TV but it’s the first time I’ve had anything to do with it behind the scenes. The staff are excellent and the facilities are all state-of-the-art. The way you are treated by the people at the stadium but also about the town, is brilliant. It’s exceeded every expectation I had.
How are your family settling into life here?
My wife is here and I have a boy who is three-years-old.
They are settling in well. The only thing for my boy is that he can’t understand that he has to wear shoes all the time.
We have to force them on his feet because he doesn’t understand why.
How have you found working with the new Head Coach Jono Gibbes?
He is making us work hard but he’s also a character and he makes it fun as well.
When he’s serious, he’s serious and I’m also excited to work with him as this will be the first time that I’ve got to work with him.
Have you any preference for position across the back row?
It’s the other way around back home, six is seven and seven is six.
I’m comfortable six, seven or eight but if I do have a preference I’ll play six as I’ve played there the most.
At the end of the day I just want to get on the park.
You sound very excited to link up with Marcell Coetzee. Have you any idea how the combinations might work between you?
Yes, it’s good to be in the same environment again but we haven’t been told about the combinations yet.
It’s good to be working with him again and he takes a lot of load off me and I took a lot of load off him back home so hopefully we can continue that with a different jersey on.
I’m sure you’re also very pleased to see Marcell fighting back to full fitness?
I’ve been down that road as well as I know exactly how he feels so we talk a lot about it. He’ll come to me and say he’s feeling this way so what must he do.
For him he’s come a long way since then. He’s just like a racehorse who’s been pinned down and he just wants to get out.
So I must keep him calm as well but he’ll be good and ready to get out.
Will it be a strange experience for you to see South African teams play in the PRO14?
I think it will be more strange for the others guys than for me playing against them.
It will be interesting to see how they do in the conditions up here and how Irish teams or whoever do in the conditions down in South Africa.
But I’m really excited for them they are very proud unions and they want to make a mark in their first year.
Do you think the South African people will embrace the new format?
I do, they are such a hungry, rugby-based people.
I think it might be slow in the beginning and as soon as they start to know the teams up here, it will go from strength to strength on a supporters’ base back home.