One F

[Cornerfleg]

2 years is what I'm hearing ... or in reality about 10 games ... but I'm delighted to be keeping him here!

[The Boo Radleys]

Stephen Ferris to reject lucrative Japan move to stay with Ulster

Stephen Ferris is set to stay with Ulster after turning down a potentially lucrative move to play in Japan.

The flanker's contract with the IRFU will expire on 30 June but news that he will remain in Ireland is expected to be confirmed by the end of the week.

The Ireland player has been plagued by injury in recent years and missed much of last season after undergoing two operations on an ankle problem.

The 27-year-old is understood to have agreed a new two-year contract.

The barnstorming back row missed Ireland's entire 2013 Six Nations campaign and last November's internationals because of injury.

In April, Ulster coach Mark Anscombe had admitted that he was resigned to losing Ferris, at which point an unnamed Japanese club were thought to be favourites to secure his signature.

The 35-times capped Irish international was selected for the 2009 British and Irish Lions squad but was forced to return home however after making a good impression in the early tour games in South Africa.

Any hopes he harboured of making this year's Lions tour to Australia ended when he was ruled out of action since early November.

[pwrmoore]

Good news if confirmed. But as fleg says - we shouldn't expwect to see him in more than about 10 games over the 2 year contract.

[Russ]

10 games, with hopefully 3-6 of them against Munster and Leinster and the rest in the HEC will do me

[DirtyRucker]

Excellent news! He'll get some reception when he runs back onto the pitch!

[dcpete]

Good news if confirmed. But as fleg says - we shouldn't expwect to see him in more than about 10 games over the 2 year contract.

It's great news and ten games over two years is fine by me so long as those ten are the semi & final of the league and the 3 knockout rounds of the Heineken cup each year!

[promsandwich]

BBC NI reporting 6 month contract. Either way great news

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

6 feckin months?
EH!!!?

Will be just enough to tie him over before the southern hemisphere season kicks in...

[mikerob]

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/11577.php

Confirmed.

However it mentions he will probably miss the first 4 months of the season, so that is probably where the 6 months comes from to take it to the end of 13/14.

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

it mentions he will probably miss the first 4 months of the season, so that is probably where the 6 months comes from to take it to the end of 13/14.

Nope. Wrong.

Blindside flanker, Stephen Ferris, has signed a six-month contract extension with Ulster and Ireland that will see him remain at Ravenhill until at least the end of 2013.

6 months to see if he's fit enough to return to rugby. then he'll be offered more.

[Wee Woman]

This is not new news folks - I did tell you but would any of you listen??

Mr WW bumped into big Stevo in the (ridiculously massive) queues for the loos at the RDS. He asked him if he was staying 'or what?' - big Stevo winked & gave him a knowing look.

He's staying.

Y'all sit up and listen next time, y'hear?

Seriously though, great news, even if it's only for 6 months. I hope he stays fit and the IRFU do the right thing in December.

[pwrmoore]

There are a couple of pretty big "IFs" there WW - but it's a definite improvement on where we were before and you could argue that it shows a bit of shrewd sensse on behalf of the IRFU.

[colind]

Paul
Did you just say "sense" (or even sensse) and "IRFU" in the same sentence? never thought I'd hear that.

Colin

[Setanta]

I prefer to give the credit to DH rather than the IRFU and I think I'm probably correct.

[damianmcr]

So Ferris back late October maybe then? What then if he stays fit until the end of the year? A year and a half contract?