Stephen Ferris
Ireland
player portrait
Full name Stephen Ferris
Born August 2, 1985, Portadown, Northern Ireland
Current age 38 years 230 days
Major teams British and Irish Lions, Ulster, Ireland
Position Flanker
Height 6 ft 4 in
Weight 246 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2006-2012 35 30 5 10 2 0 0 0 19 14 2 57.14
Five/Six Nations 2009-2012 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 4 1 67.85
IRB Rugby World Cup 2011-2011 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 75

Career statistics
Test debut Ireland v Pacific Islanders at Lansdowne Road, Nov 26, 2006 match details
Last Test England v Ireland at Twickenham, Mar 17, 2012 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list
Profile

Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris made his international bow against the Pacific Islands in the final game at the old Lansdowne Road.

Ferris had previously represented Ireland at age-grade levels, and was also named Ulster's player of the season in 2006. The young Ferris is a hard running athlete who can play anywhere across the back-row, with his tireless work-rate enhanced by a lust for contact.

He was plagued by injury following Ireland's 2007 summer tour to Argentina, with torn knee cartilage forcing him under the knife. He recovered to take his place with Ireland's World Cup squad, but was forced into another knee operation after not featuring during the tournament.

Injury ruled Ferris out of the 2008 Six Nations, but good early season form for Ulster saw him rewarded with three further caps during Ireland's end of year campaign. He retained his place for the following year's Six Nations and was an ever-present as Declan Kidney's side clinched the Grand Slam. Selection for the British & Irish Lions' tour to South Africa followed but his trip was cruelly ended early by injury.

He made his international return for the autumn series later the same year and featured strongly in the hard-fought draw with Australia and the impressive victory over South Africa.

Ferris missed the 2011 Six Nations and the second half of Ulster's domestic campaign with a knee injury. But in July he gave Ireland a major boost by announcing he would be fit to challenge for a place in the Irish Rugby World Cup squad.

And during the campaign, Ferris shone in their historic win over Australia in the group stages. He adopted the now famous 'wrap around' tackle to prevent the Wallabies from getting quick ball as Declan Kidney's men ran out 15-6 winners. Ireland eventually bowed out to Wales in the quarter-finals but Ferris was one of the standout players in the tournament.

Going into the 2011-12 season, Ulster and Ferris shone on the European stage with the Irish side putting in a memorable 41-7 win over Leicester at Ravenhill.

Latest Articles
Ferris: Ulster need more star signings (Dec 16, 2014) Injury forces Stephen Ferris to quit (Jun 3, 2014) Ankle injury threatens Stephen Ferris' career (May 21, 2014) Ferris injury woe finally over (Mar 13, 2014) O'Brien to miss Six Nations (Jan 11, 2014) Stephen Ferris news and articles (78) »
Latest Photos
Dec 18, 2013
Ireland and Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris graduates from the University of Ulster
Ireland and Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris graduates from the University of Ulster
©  Twitter
Jul 31, 2012
Ulster's Stephen Ferris, Tomy Bowe and Rory Best
Ulster's Stephen Ferris, Tomy Bowe and Rory Best
©  Ulster Rugby
May 19, 2012
Ulster's Stephen Ferris runs into Brad Thorn
Ulster's Stephen Ferris runs into Brad Thorn
©  PA Photos
Apr 8, 2012
Ulster's Stephen Ferris put in a monumental performance against Munster
Ulster's Stephen Ferris put in a monumental performance against Munster
©  Getty Images
Stephen Ferris rugby photos (37) »

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