RORY BEST HAS been named as the new Ireland rugby captain for the 2016 Six Nations.
The 33-year-old Ulster hooker takes over the primary leadership role from second row Paul O’Connell who retired from the international game after last year’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Best, who follows his brother Simon in the list of Ulster men to captain his country, has skippered Ireland four times over the course of his 89 Test caps.
His first time leading out the side came in the 2009 summer tour of North America under Declan Kidney. The Banbridge man most recently took over the figurative ‘armband’ after O’Connell was struck down by injury in the 2012 Six Nations. Best led Ireland to a home win over Scotland before suffering the only loss of his four-game tenure as captain, against England in Twickenham.
