Pedrie joined Ulster Rugby in 2010 from the Blue Bulls, after becoming the first player at the South African club to make 100 appearances. Joining the province in the same season as Johann Muller and Ruan Pienaar, Wannenburg was part of a key South African contingent at the province, where they became adopted Ulster men.
The 20-times-capped Springbok was known for being an abrasive and physical carrier on the pitch, but was equally recognised as a gentleman off the pitch. While at Ulster, he married his wife, Evette, and had a daughter, Isabelle, and later a son, Francois in 2013.
In total, Wannenburg played 54 times for Ulster, scoring 9 tries including in the 2012 Heineken Cup semi-final against Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium. He also played in the Heineken Cup final at Twickenham versus Leinster, having helped the province reach their first European final since 1999.
After departing Ulster at the end of the 2012 season, Pedrie played in France for both Castres and Oyonnax, before moving to the USA where he played for Denver Stampede and Austin Elite before hanging up his playing boots to take up a role as Assistant Coach at the Austin club in 2019, a position he held until his tragic passing.
Ulster Rugby extends its sincerest condolences to Evette, Isabelle, and Francois, who is recovering from serious injuries sustained in the accident last weekend.
Rice University Rugby Club in Texas, where Pedrie also coached for the 2020-21 season, has launched a fund-raiser for his family, which can be found here.
A moment's silence in memory of Pedrie was observed before Ulster's URC Round 17 game versus Edinburgh at The DAM Health Stadium on Saturday evening.
