Springbok Robbie Kempson was banned for four weeks

Kempson, who was banned for four weeks by judicial tribunal following Saturday's Tri-Nations clash against Australia, will travel from his Cape Town base to Durban at the weekend.

Ulster coach Alan Solomons will fly out with 28 players to Durban on Thursday for what he ironically called ''warm-weather'' training before the season gets under way at the end of the month.

''Essentially the trip is to integrate some of our younger players into the squad,'' said the former Springboks assistant coach, who is now in the last year of his three-year tenure with the Irish province.

''There's no doubt that we are gong to need all of our squad this season with World Cup call-ups.

''I always said that I wanted an Ulster team made up of local talent, and players like Tommy Bowe, Glen Telford and Simon Shawe are joining us on the trip.

''The Celtic League is going to be very exciting as the Welsh and Scottish teams will also be in the same position as us with international in Australia.

At no time did I have sight of the ball so I did not know he had off-loaded it Rob Kempson

''We have done most of our fitness training, and it will be matter of fine-tuning in Durban and we will be have the use of the magnificent King's Park gymnasium.

''It will be good to have Robbie with us for a while. I think he had things unfairly rough,'' Solomons told this website

.

After some cruel slating in the press, Kempson will be glad to see some friendly faces.

"It will be great to see the guys again," said Kempson, who is on loan to Sarfu until the end of the World Cup.

"I have been wearing the red tape on my wrists to represent the Red Hand of Ulster. "I am certainly looking forward to returning to Ireland."

It was Solomons who Kempson turned too immediately after he was cited for his alleged late tackle against Toutai Kefu.

Solomons, a one-time defence lawyer in Cape Town, organised Australian QC John Boyd to represented Kempson at the Sanzar judiciary panel.

Kempson himself felt that the tackle was not as bad as was perceived.

Ulster's former Springbok coach Alan Solomons taking squad to Durban

"The judicial tribunal declared that the tackle was not malicious, but was reckless," said Kempson.

"But I do not accept that it was reckless. I made a tackle from behind on one of the best ball handlers in world rugby.

"At no time did I have sight of the ball so I did not know he had off-loaded it. "I made what I felt would have been a try-saving tackle.''

Ulster begin their season with friendlies against Orrell at Ravenhill on 22 August and London Irish the following week.

The season gets under way proper with a trip top St Helen's to face Neath-Swansea Ospreys at the Gnoll on 5 September.