Michael Lowry is the latest Ulster Rugby player to sign a new three year deal.
Lowry follows in the footsteps of Robert Baloucoune and Stewart Moore, whose contract extensions were announced in the last 48 hours.
Back three stars Lowry and Baloucone made their Ireland debuts in the last year - Lowry did so against Italy in the Six Nations last month, when he scored a brace of tries, while Baloucoune made his bow against USA in the 2021 summer series.
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Lowry, who hails from Belfast, has been nominated for the 2022 European Player of the Year on the back of his form for the province and was pivotal in the dramatic away win in the Champions Cup round of 16 first leg victory over Toulouse last Saturday.
The 23-year-old said: “I’m delighted to extend my time with Ulster.
"I’m excited to see what we can achieve in the next few seasons, and I definitely want to be a part of something special with this group.”
The development is a boost to the province ahead of their home second leg against Toulouse on Saturday at 8pm. Ulster hold a six point advantage at half-time in the tie.
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland commented: “Mike has played a fundamental part in our squad, developing over the last number of years into a Test level 15.
"This progression has not been a surprise, it comes from his in-built determination and toughness, a standout desire to constantly develop and stardust that not many players possess.
“He has had a phenomenal season, and I know Mike will be at the forefront of whatever this group of players achieves going forward.”
Meanwhile, Lowry has revealed why he has stopped wearing his distinctive white scrum cap this year.
“Originally I put it on because my ear kept getting caught in tackles and was tearing off,” he told this week’s Rugby Pod with Andy Goode and Jim Hamilton.
“It healed and I thought, 'right, I’ll just keep the scrum hat on' and then I put it in the washing machine, took it out and it had completely shrivelled, torn to pieces and that was about two days before the Northampton game (in January).
“I was like, 'I’m not going to get the chance to get a new one' because it was from Australia, one of the NRL ones - one of the ones the rugby league lads wear.
"So since then I just decided not to wear one. They just thought I was a little hobbit before with a white scrum hat!".
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