Stephen Ferris

The 23-year-old took a development contract with Ulster in the 2005-2006 season, having been an underage international, and hasn't looked back. He made his debut against the Pacific Islands in the last international at Lansdowne Road in 2006 and travelled to the 2007 World Cup without seeing game time.

It is this season that he came into his own in the national team with a series of brilliant performances.

Powerful, mobile and with great hands, the hard-tackling Ulsterman had already left an indelible impression with his performances and long range turnover tries against the Golden Lions and Cheetahs before he was invalided out of the tour with a knee injury. A Test banker at six, his loss was a major blow.