Having undergone a period of treatment and rehabilitation for the left knee injury sustained during Ulster’s match against Aironi in January, Stephen Ferris was reassessed by his surgeon today (Tuesday) and a decision was taken for him to undergo arthroscopic surgery.

Ulster hope that following this procedure a definitive diagnosis and prognosis for return to rugby will be reached however this means that Ferris will not be available for Ulster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final match against Northampton Saints on 10th April.