A flanker who has a non-stop motor and a love for physical contact, Ferris is seen as the ideal forward to deal with the hard surfaces and physical Springboks in South Africa.

The 23-year-old from Portadown will head on tour following a superb season that saw him help Ireland clinch the Grand Slam in the RBS Six Nations.

Ferris' international career had up until then been a stop-start affair hampered by injuries. He missed the entire 2007 World Cup following two knee operations.

Since then he has managed to stay healthy to become a key member of a powerful Irish pack having represented his country at the Under-20 World Cup back in 2005.

Capable of playing in any of the back-row positions, Ferris has the power and pace to cause the South Africans plenty of problems, both in the loose and at the breakdown.