Ulster Rugby today announced that five current players have signed two year extensions to their contracts. The news means Paul Steinmetz, Bryn Cunningham, Paul Marshall, Nigel Brady and Declan Fitzpatrick will remain at Ravenhill until the 2008/09 season.

Steinmetz, who has previously played Super 12 rugby for both the Hurricanes and the Highlanders, is currently in his fourth season with Ulster and is the province's top try scorer so far this season.

Cunningham was a member of Ulster's European Cup winning side of 1999 after making his debut against Wasps in 1997. He is one of Ulster's most capped players (115).

Marshall is in his first year of a professional contract with Ulster having been in the Academy for two seasons. He made his full Ulster debut against the Dragons in 2006.

Brady made his Ulster debut in the 2002-03 season against provincial rivals Munster but then had to wait over a year for his next cap. The hooker has been unlucky this season with injury and is currently sidelined with a thumb injury.

Fitzpatrick is in his first season as a fully contracted Ulster player and made his Ulster debut against Llanelli in September last year.