Ulster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions flanker, Stephen Ferris, has confirmed that he is to retire from rugby as a result of a persistent ankle problem.
It is a huge blow not alone to the province but to the national side as Ferris was one of ther outstanding players of his generation, albeit one cursed by injury issues. Personable and with a good sense of humour he was a popular team-mate.
The 28 year-old won 35 caps for Ireland and made 106 appearances for Ulster. He was an integral member of the Ireland squad at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and played in all five games of Ireland’s 2009 Grand Slam success.
That same year he was selected for the British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa and scored two tries before injury prevented him from claiming a Test place.
He won his last cap for Ireland, against England, in the RBS 6 Nations in March 2012.
Ferris, a graduate of the Ulster Rugby Academy, made his debut for Ulster as a substitute against Border Reivers in 2005 aged just 20.
He quickly made an Ulster starting place his own and was named Ulster’s Player-of-the-Year in 2006. In 2012 he was man-of-the-match in the Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Munster and was instrumental as Ulster made the final for the first time since 1999…
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