Tue 18 Mar 2014 | 04:31
Stephen Ferris returns to rugby with trademark powerful tackle

11
Comments

It's been a good few days for Ireland fans. They won the Six Nations, Brian O'Driscoll went out in style, and flanker Stephen Ferris, who has been out with a long injury lay-off, made his return. He marked it with a typically determined and powerful tackle.

Ferris, who missed out on last year's Lions tour because of the knee injury that kept him out of the game for two seasons, has finally been passed match fit. He made his return for Ulster on Friday night as part of their 26-13 Pro 12 victory over the Scarlets at Ravenhill.

The Ireland flanker hasn't played since November 2012, but has been working hard to regain fitness, and has all the support of his teammates, who have followed his progress closely.

"We've all come in here every morning and he's been busy a couple of hours already. He's had to do so much rehab, so many extra sessions and to see him back playing again, we're all excited," said star scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, who can be seen putting up the bomb in the clip below.

"We know what a great talent he is and what a brilliant player he's been for Ulster in the past and to see him back at his best will be great for us as a club and all of Ulster will be excited to see him running onto this pitch again."

Ferris got the biggest cheer of the night as he came off the bench in the second half. It didn't take long for him to impose himself, making a great driving tackle on Scarlets back Kristian Phillips.

The contact was a little high so he didn't smash him to the ground, but he did keep his feet well and get the leg drive going, testing that knee and driving Phillips back a fair few metres in the process.

Paddy Jackson scored two tries, with the other two scored by Tommy Bowe and Tom Court.

11 Comments

  • 9:08 AM 22/03/2014

    Why would we put O'Brien at 8 instead of Heaslip???
    We finally have 2 specialist 7's O'Mahoney/Henry, Heaslip is the best 8 we have for sure as far as I'm concerned. O'Brien and Ferris for 6 spot.
    Let's not forget Jordi Murphy who's making a name for himself also, if only we had the same depth in quality in the centre's!
    Oh dear BoD!

  • 9:03 AM 22/03/2014

    I think you need to watch it again, player went to ground, perfect timing

  • danknapp
    6:47 AM 20/03/2014

    Quality player, so glad to see him playing again. Shame he missed out on the 6N, but glad he'll be back for the World Cup next year.

  • fatprop
    1:13 PM 19/03/2014

    OHHHH JEEESUUUSSS HE'S BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!

  • stroudos
    6:18 AM 19/03/2014

    [Pedant mode]
    You could care less or you couldn't??

    Please pass on the memo to all your North American brethren - "I could care less" makes no sense and means the precise opposite of the point you're making.
    [/pedant mode]

  • perfectthirteen
    12:42 AM 19/03/2014

    Absolutely over the moon this man is back...6Ferris7OMahoney8OBrien that my freinds is arguably the best back row Ireland have ever had and potentially best backrow in the world...although OMahoney and Henry is a close call...Heaslip would be a lovely 7 too

  • 11:00 PM 18/03/2014

    I could care less about driving him to the ground if he drives him back about 10 metres!

  • 10:59 PM 18/03/2014

    With henry still in the mix keeping them all hungry, he and heaslip are the best ball handlers of that group.

  • xenophile
    10:26 PM 18/03/2014

    One of THE BEST rugby vids posted on RD for a while! The electricity of the crowd and the nervous excitement of Ferris were all too apparent. Nevermind the brilliant driving tackle...

  • mise
    10:26 PM 18/03/2014

    Ah yes, a thing of considerable beauty that tackle.

    Such a long layout, he must have thought it was nearly all over at various stages.

    Re the timing: player didn't go to ground, but the yards he made kinda made up for it!

    (He said on Irish radio that he didn't compete in this tackle as last time he went up for one of those, he did his ankle in. And it took 1.5 years to recover! Not sure how serious he was thou)

    Animal backrow Ireland will have. Note sure about who JS will put where thou...

  • jimmy23
    10:15 PM 18/03/2014

    You would have thought Ulster just won the world cup with that cheer!