Stephen Ferris
Date of birth | 2 August 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Maghaberry, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 116 kg (18 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Friends' School, Lisburn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stephen Ferris (born 2 August 1985) is a retired
Ulster
Ferris graduated from the Ulster Academy and joined Ulster Rugby on a development contract at the start of the 2005–06 season. He was named in the Ireland Under-20 Rugby World Cup Squad in 2005. He made his Ulster debut against
Ireland
Ferris made his full Ireland debut against
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.[10]
Following the 2009 Lions tour Ferris made his international return for Ireland in the autumn series later the same year and featured strongly in the hard-fought draw with Australia and the impressive victory over South Africa, 15–10.[11] Ferris played in four of Ireland's 2010 Six Nations matches, but missed the 2010 Summer Tour through injury. However, he made his international comeback during the 2010 November Tests, scoring his first international try against New Zealand at the new Landsdowne Road, and scoring his second against Argentina. He missed the 2011 Six Nations, and the latter half of the 2010/2011 season through injury, but returned for Ireland against France on 20 August during a 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-up test, having been included in Ireland's training squad for the 2011 World Cup.[12] During the campaign, Ferris shone in their win over Australia in the group stages.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
British & Irish Lions
Ferris was selected as part of the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.[13]
He scored his first Lions try on 3 June, against the Golden Lions but was forced to withdraw from the squad on Tuesday 9 June after he tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a training session. He was replaced by Wales captain Ryan Jones.[14]
Honours
Ulster
- Celtic League (1): 2005–06
Ireland
- 2009
References
- ^ "Ulster's Ferris announces retirement". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Stephen Ferris announces his retirement from rugby at 28". Irish Independent. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Fearless Ferris forced to admit defeat as injury ends career". Irish Examiner. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "'I think I just need a break from rugby' – Stephen Ferris on his retirement". The Score. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Stephen Ferris". ESPNscrum.
- ^ "Leinster and Ulster dominate-player-award/".
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|url=
(help) - ^ "Heineken Cup 2012: Brian O'Driscoll overwhelmed by Leinster's record-breaking victory over Ulster".
- ^ "Stephen Ferris keeping the faith as he battles ankle injury". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Stephen Ferris announces his retirement from rugby at 28".
- ^ "2009 Six Nations". BBC Sport. 22 March 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
- ^ "Stephen Ferris".
- ^ "Stephen Ferris". ESPNscrum.
- ^ "Ferris is among 14 Ireland Lions". BBC Sport. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
- ^ "Jones called up after Ferris blow". BBC Sport. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2009.