Exeter Chiefs' long-serving forward Dave Ewers will be leaving the Gallagher Premiership club at the end of the current campaign to join United Rugby Championship side Ulster.

The 32-year-old has been a stand-out figure for the Chiefs over many years, so far amassing 226 first-team games and 38 tries for the Devon club. 

A product of the club's highly successful Academy system, Ewers made his debut back in 2009 in a British & Irish Cup fixture away to Newport at Rodney Parade. 

Since then, he has helped the club to lift the LV= Cup in 2014, as well as two Premiership Rugby titles, as well a Heineken Champions Cup crown. 

A destructive ball-carrier, as well as robust defender, it remains a mystery how Ewers has never been capped at Test level.

A consistent performer on the big stage, he is the third confirmed departure at the end of the season, joining Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds, both of whom are joining French Top 14 outfit, Montpellier. 

Fly-half Joe Simmonds could be joining them soon, though, with speculation linking him with another French Top 14 side Pau.

Commenting on his departure, Ewers said: "Obviously, I'm gutted to be leaving the Chiefs. It has been my life for so many years and I've been blessed to have made so many happy memories, as well as life-long friends. 

"To sum up all those years in words is incredibly tough to do, but it's been an unbelievable journey and one that I am very proud to have been part of.

"Like all good things, they have to come an end at some stage and now I have a new chapter in my career to look forward to with Ulster. 

"Between now and then, I have a big job to do here at the Chiefs and I will be doing everything I can to ensure that my final months with Exeter are the best they can be."