Best To Lead Ulster Next Season

Ireland prop Simon Best is to captain Ulster next season, following in the footsteps of retired flanker Andy Ward who led the province for the past four years.

The 27-year-old Best, who was yesterday named in the Ireland squad for next month’s two-Test trip to Japan, made his Ulster debut against Connacht in 1999 and has accumulated 85 provincial caps.

Capped previously at Ireland Schools, Under-19, Under-21, Under-25 and ‘A’ level, the Craigavon-born forward made his Ireland debut against Tonga in the summer of 2003.

Best, whose younger brother Rory hooks for Ulster, earned the last of his six Test caps as a second half replacement against the US Eagles last November.

A starter against France ‘A’ in March, Best described his appointment as Ulster skipper as a “massive honour”, adding that it took very little time for him to weigh up the offer.

Ulster Chief Executive Michael Reid said: “Simon is respected by the management and his team-mates and should bring a fresh outlook to the captaincy.

“With the new breed of players coming through the ranks, the appointment of a younger captain who, as well as having vast experience in Celtic, European and Interprovincial competitions with Ulster, has solid experience of the international scene, should provide a good conduit between the younger and the more experienced players within the squad, as well as with management.”

Ulster finished the 2004/05 season in disappointing fashion, losing out in the Celtic Cup quarter-finals to the Ospreys after placing eighth in the League. Mark McCall’s side also failed to make the Heineken Cup’s knock-out stages for the sixth time since 1999.