Ulster captain Iain Henderson believes the province will still see the best of Steven Kitshoff despite his uncertain future.<\/span><\/p>\n Kitshoff only arrived last November, weeks after winning the Rugby World Cup for a second time with South Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n It has been reported the 32-year-old could return to the Stormers this summer after only one season at Kingspan Stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n “I know he’s an ultra professional,” said Henderson.<\/span><\/p>\n “We’ll be expecting nothing different from him working through this week and looking forward to an exciting game at the weekend,” added Ulster captain Henderson. <\/span><\/p>\n Defeat against his former side in Cape Town last weekend was just Kitshoff’s 12th game in Ulster colours, of which the side have won four and lost eight.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite the mixed results, Henderson believes the prop has been an asset since his arrival only five months ago.<\/span><\/p>\n “He’s been brilliant for us,” said Henderson. “He’s been brilliant for a lot of young lads in that scrum environment, around the park.<\/span><\/p>\n “He’s been filling the boots that he’s put on the international field before. <\/span><\/p>\n “We’ve seen him getting over a load of good balls, carrying well, being unbelievable in his chop tackle and defence.”<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking before the United Rugby Championship final in June last year, Kitshoff had called the contest his “final [Stormers] game for now”.<\/span><\/p>\n “I can always come back to the Stormers and I will always keep that door open,” he added, before his side’s loss to Munster in the league decider. <\/span><\/p>\n Since then, the financial pictures at his current and former clubs has changed significantly. <\/span><\/p>\n Western Province Rugby Football Union completed an equity deal with the Red Disa Consortium in March. <\/span><\/p>\n Ulster, meanwhile, have been dealing with well-documented financial constraints and posted losses of more than \u00a3900,000 last season.<\/span><\/p>\n Fly-half Billy Burns has so far been the biggest name confirmed to be leaving the side this summer, with the former Irish international poised to join Munster for next season. <\/span><\/p>\n More players will follow at the end of a campaign where both head coach Dan McFarland and CEO Jonny Petrie have also departed.<\/span><\/p>\n Amid such uncertainty, Henderson does not see talk of Kitshoff’s exit being a distraction before the resumption of European action this weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n Ulster will take on Montpellier at the GGL Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup.<\/span><\/p>\n “There’s a huge amount of speculation that goes on all over the place,” added Henderson. <\/span><\/p>\n “Not only Steven’s position or the players’ positions but it comes with the territory of professional sport.<\/span><\/p>\n “I sat down and had dinner with Steven in the middle of last week, a handful of us.<\/span><\/p>\n “I don’t see it being any issue that we can foresee or that we’re going to read into too much between now and playing the game at the weekend.”<\/span><\/p>\n This is Ulster’s second time in the second-tier European competition with the province having reached the semi-finals in 2021, only to be beaten by Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.<\/span><\/p>\n But as they seek a first trophy of any kind since 2006, Henderson says now is not the time to be talking about winning competitions.<\/span><\/p>\n “Where we are at the minute, we have to take it game by game,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’m not going to say we’re going to go and win the Challenge Cup. Yes, it would be great to do that but I’m not going to get ahead of ourselves. <\/span><\/p>\n![\"Iain](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/EBEC\/production\/_133069306_inpho_02375306.jpg\")
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