Centre Luke Marshall signs new deal with Ulster

Ulster have announced Luke Marshall has signed a two-year contract extension with the province that will keep him at Ravenhill until 2018.

Marshall has scored five tries in 14 appearances so far this season, as well as earning a call-up to the Ireland squad for the Six Nations.

On signing his new deal, Marshall said: “It is always a privilege for me to play for my home province so I’m delighted to be staying on for another couple of seasons.

“We have a strong squad that is only getting better, and with the coaching team that we have in place, I believe we are well-positioned to challenge for silverware in the near future.

“We have come close to winning something over the past few seasons so there is definitely some unfinished business.”

Ulster's director of rugby Les Kiss said: "We're delighted that Luke has committed his future to us, particularly given that there was a high level of interest in him.

“Luke is one of our core group of indigenous players which is the bedrock of this squad and, at just 24, we believe that his best rugby is still ahead of him. He is an outstanding professional and a really good person to have in the squad.”

However it was also confirmed winger Rory Scholes would be leaving the province at the end of the season to join Pro 12 rivals Edinburgh.

On losing Scholes, Kiss said: “It was obviously a tough decision for Rory and it’s disappointing to lose a player of his quality.

"Our Academy has done a great job in producing local young talent that has gone on to perform well at PRO12 and Champions Cup level. Rory's departure will give more opportunities to our current crop of young players such as Jacob Stockdale, Jack Owens and Robert Lyttle. "

Scholes has signed a two-year deal in the Scottish capital, and he said: “The move to Edinburgh is a good challenge for me at this point in my career. I think they’re a team on the up and that I, personally, can bring something to the squad, and I’m really looking forward to coming over and getting to work.

“It looks as if it’s an exciting place to be; it’s a great club which is going in the right direction and that’s something I want to be involved in.”