The Belfast Beaver.

Ulster are set to announce the signing of World Cup winning All Black Stephen ‘the beaver’ Donald in the coming days to replace the outgoing Christian Leali’ifano, according to a report in The Irish Independent this afternoon.

The northern province have already confirmed a deal is in place to replace Leali’ifano, with the Wallaby international set to return home to Australia with the Brumbies, following the conclusion of the pool stages of the Champions Cup.

The 34-year-old playmaker, who famously started the 2011 Rugby World Cup final after taking a call while out fishing, has most recently been playing in Japan, and played against the Lions during their tour of New Zealand over the summer, captaining the Chiefs.

It is believed he will arrive in Belfast shortly after his club, the Tokyo-based Toshiba Brave Lupus, finish up their league campaign this weekend and would be in line to make his debut for Ulster in February when the Guinness PRO14 returns.