No stranger to captaining the Ulster side, 30-year-old O’Connor is a player who graces almost every team-sheet, with 450 minutes under his belt this season already. Named the URC Tackle Machine last season, with 195 tackles at a success rate of 97.5%, this stat-topping player leads by example.

A graduate of the Ulster Rugby Academy, the Dublin-born lock has 163 caps for the province, and was named the club’s Player of the Year for the 2020/21 season, given his continued hard work in the engine room of the match-day pack.

On staying with the province he has called home for the past decade, and has captained to landmark wins including over Leinster at the RDS last November, O’Connor, said:

“I’m delighted to sign-on for another couple of seasons. It’s a brilliant group of lads, and a great place to be.”

Meanwhile teammate, Marcus Rea, kicked-off his Senior career back in 2018 with a win over Interpro rivals, Leinster, in a Player of the Match performance that saw him score a try in a 14-13 victory at Kingspan Stadium.

Already racking-up the points this season, the former Ballymena Academy 1st XV Captain is now known not just for his ability to score tries but for his trademark turnover skills, both of which were on display in Ulster’s 55-point victory over Scarlets in Round 2 of the BKT United Rugby Championship.

After last season saw him make his first European start in a landmark win over Clermont on French soil, the back-rower is excited for what the time ahead holds for him at Ulster:

“I couldn’t see myself in any other jersey. I love the environment, the people I work with, and the friends I have here. I am very happy to be staying at home.”

On securing two players set to continue to contribute significantly to the club in the seasons ahead, Head Coach, Dan McFarland, said:

“Al is a player who epitomises the ‘every inch’ attitude that we want to bring onto the pitch for every game. He has led the team consistently in a way that embodies his own personal approach to his job, totally committed to winning and being the best we can be.

“Marcus has worked hard over the last two years to carve out a key role in our squad which sees him able to produce turnovers at critical times. He works hard both on and off the pitch, and has plenty more big moments in an Ulster jersey to come.”