X marks the spat for Ferris
STEPHEN FERRIS says he holds no grudges towards Stuart Mccloskey after their latest Twitter spat.
Ex-ulster star Ferris’s only regret about posting a comparison of the province’s 2014 and 2024 teams on X – a post that current player Mccloskey responded to, saying it’s what a 12-year-old would do – it is that he didn’t wait another 24 hours.
Ulster’s heavy Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat at Clermont was the latest blow suffered in a season that has seen a head coach and CEO depart, before last week’s confirmation that Steven Kitshoff will be leaving at the end of just one season.
“It’s not the first time Stu has called me out,” Ferris said. “I didn’t feel that my tweet was personal towards Stuart, but his tweet was very personal towards me.
“But when you work in the media, you have to have a pretty thick skin and it’s water off a duck’s back to me.
“Stuart Mccloskey can call me a 12-year-old as many times as he wants, I won’t hold a grudge whatsoever and next time I see him, I’ll shake his hand and hopefully we can have a laugh about it.”
Ferris, 38, made over 100 Ulster appearances and played 35 times for Ireland before injury ended his career a decade ago.
He describes Ulster as a team that looked “lost” after losing Iain Henderson and Rob Herring to injury in Clermont.
The Premier Sports pundit added: “Everyone expects Ulster to win trophies. Why?
“We haven’t won anything since 2006, so why are they seen as one of the favourites for the Champions Cup or the URC? It’s not the case.
“They’re a really young team who have to learn fast and, if they don’t, then their season will be over in the next few weeks. Hopefully not.
“Hopefully they can get a reaction against Cardiff.”