[tag=image]http://dementedmole.files.wordpress.com ... r-ears.jpg[/tag][tag=content]It was the news we all feared, but the news we all knew was coming.
There are many words that would accurately describe Stephen Ferris, so many so I couldn’t mention them all. A nine-year career cut cruelly short by injury has finally come to its conclusion with yesterday’s announcement and the tributes have come flooding in from across the British Isles for a player whose talent at blindside flanker may never grace the Ravenhill pitch ever again.
Since his debut in 2005 against the Border Reivers, fans and coaches alike knew they had a real star on their hands. And they were right – 106 appearances for Ulster and 35 caps for his country later, as well as a call up to the 2009 British & Irish Lions squad to boot, and I think everyone will agree that it has been a very successful career for the former Friends pupil.
And yet it is with sadness that we contemplate the end of an era.
As Ferris joins Johann Muller and Paddy Wallace in retirement, fans will think about what could have been for him had his playing career not been blighted by injury. With his style of play it was probably inevitable that he would pick up injuries, but with so many it severely restricted the impact he was able to have in the white and green.
I’m sure everyone else remembers the anxious wait we had before the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster to see whether Fez would be fit to play or not and how much of an impact he then had in the ensuing game – it’s hard to come to the realisation that we will never see that impact again on a rugby pitch.
But yet it is not worth focusing on the negatives of such a wonderful career. For all his injury problems, he can still boast a Grand Slam with Ireland and a Celtic League with Ulster, and the honour of being selected to go on a Lions tour is nothing to be ashamed of either! And of course, who can forget that tackle on Will Genia for Ireland in the 2011 World Cup, a testament to the strength of the man.
In 2009 along with David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip he formed a destructive back row partnership and was nailed on to start for the Lions that year but for his injury. It’s incredible to think that despite what he achieved, it could have been so much more had he not been injured so often.
And so we say goodbye to one of the greatest players to don the white shirt of Ulster. We may not have seen as much of him as we would’ve liked, but he’s given us plenty of memories over the last few years to look back on and enjoy. Even seeing him return this season is something that we will remember for a while – that first hit against the Scarlets was incredible.
On the other hand, maybe retirement was the only option. We’ve already heard him say he may never run again due to his injuries so as much as we want him to continue, the player’s welfare must come first of course. As gutted as we are that he is gone, I have no doubt everyone wishes him the best for the future.
5th April 2014 – mark the occasion in your diary if you were there because you witnessed the final appearance of Stephen Ferris on a rugby pitch. Ulster will go a long way to produce a flanker nearly half as good as him ever and it is a sad day in the history of Ulster Rugby. Thanks for the memories Stephen, you owe us nothing.
As many people have said over the last few days: the word “legend” is bandied around but very seldom does it actually apply to the player in question. In this case it doesn’t apply enough – it is an understatement for a player who has given his all for his province and his country both on the pitch and off it, the likes of whom may never be seen again. It’s not enough, but it’ll have to do.
Stephen Ferris, Ulster and Irish legend[/tag]
One 'F' In Ferris
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