Ireland back row Stephen Ferris has signed a new three-year contract with Ulster rugby which will keep him at Ravenhill until 2011.

Ferris who recently returned from the Irish tour to New Zealand and Australia has been capped 5 times by his country.

He won his first International cap starting against the Pacific Islands in 2006.

Speaking about the new deal Ferris said: "I'm pleased to commit the next three years of my life to playing for Ulster, it means everything to me to don that white shirt, and it's a real honour to be part of the team.

"I'm only 22 and hope to play for Ulster for a long time to come; I really couldn't see myself playing anywhere else.

"There is such a fantastic group of lads in the squad and now that it is quite a young squad, we are going to build up a winning team together."