# Rory Best

Last year

2022

# Courts

Rugby star Rory Best apologises and agrees to pay damages for rape trial remarks

Best was listed as a potential character witness for Paddy Jackson in 2018 but was not called to give evidence.

65.1k

Jun 28th 2022, 3:50 PM

All time

# best foot forward

Rory Best appointed to Fiji coaching staff for November tour

The former Ireland and Ulster hooker will serve as forwards coach under Gareth Baber.

8.3k

Oct 19th 2021, 11:19 AM

# Horses for Courses

Best defends Schmidt's 'pressurised' Ireland environment following Tuohy criticism

Former Ulster and Ireland lock Tuohy told the Telf Rugby podcast last month that players often felt ‘belittled and scared’ under Schmidt’s watch.

39.8k

Jul 20th 2021, 8:04 PM

# locks

'If you’re picking on form, it’s Itoje and Henderson' - Rory Best

The ex-Ireland captain also believes Johnny Sexton should have been called up.

23.2k

Updated

Jul 19th 2021, 5:29 PM

# On the ladder

Rory Best using new Seattle role to test his appetite for a life in coaching

The former Ireland and Ulster hooker has joined the MLR side until the end of the 2021 season.

10.0k

Apr 27th 2021, 1:46 PM

# experience

Former Ireland captain Rory Best takes on 'mentoring role' with Ulster

The 38-year-old was with the Ulster A coaching team for Friday night’s win over Leinster.

6.3k

Jan 18th 2021, 8:39 AM

# EXTRACT

'I had turned 37 nine days before the Twickenham defeat, and suddenly I felt old'

In this extract from his autobiography, former Ireland captain Rory Best looks back on a humbling defeat to England.

7.5k

Jun 2nd 2020, 7:00 AM

# Opportunity

Rory Best says virus can lead to global rugby alignment

The former Ireland captain is convinced that switching the seasons would boost northern hemisphere nations’ chances of winning the World Cup.

7.4k

Apr 21st 2020, 10:23 PM

# Looking Back

'That's the great thing about this Irish team, it's about an island performing'

As he reflects on his career, Rory Best takes pride from squeezing every drop out of the potential he had.

10.4k

Mar 5th 2020, 7:17 PM

# Leader

'In terms of the captaincy, it seems we're not so quick to see how good Johnny has become'

Former Ireland captain Rory Best is confident his successor, Johnny Sexton, will bounce back.

10.0k

Mar 4th 2020, 8:53 PM

# Regret

'At a time Joe needed support, I felt I'd done the opposite. It was never my intention'

Rory Best has expressed his regret about comments he made in the wake of Ireland’s World Cup exit.

34.7k

Mar 4th 2020, 8:02 AM

# Silent Leader

'If he gets selected as Ireland captain, he’ll do a great job' - Van Graan backs O'Mahony

The 30-year-old Munster skipper is among the candidates to succeed Rory Best.

20.0k

Dec 11th 2019, 8:00 AM

# Moving On

'In 12 months' time kids will walk straight past you, and their Dad will be saying 'Do you know who that is there?''

Rory Best on learning to be himself as Ireland captain, legacy, and talking Brexit with Joe Schmidt.

37.9k

Updated

Dec 7th 2019, 10:00 AM

# Ireland

'There's a real emphasis on if somebody speaks with a non-Irish accent, they must be better at rugby than us'

The former Ulster and Ireland captain believes the enjoyment has been taken out of rugby.

10.2k

Dec 5th 2019, 7:00 AM

# joker

Best hopes 'hilarious' Farrell doesn't lose element of fun as he steps into Schmidt's shoes

The former Ireland captain has explained how the incoming head coach likes to bring some comedy to his video review sessions.

9.6k

Dec 4th 2019, 5:00 PM

# Hanging up the boots

Best bows out as Pivac begins Wales reign with thrilling defeat of Barbarians

The former Ireland captain received a standing ovation at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

18.5k

Nov 30th 2019, 6:53 PM

# Skipper

Best to captain Barbarians in final game at Twickenham before retiring from rugby

The former Ulster and Ireland captain will lead the side when they take to the field against Fiji.

7.9k

Nov 13th 2019, 7:17 PM

# One More Spin

Best to line out at Twickenham for one final match before hanging up the boots

The former Ulster and Ireland captain will play for the Barbarians next month.

30.7k

Oct 29th 2019, 10:33 AM

# Rugby Weekly

Schmidt found Ireland's performance hard to explain as his team fell at a familiar hurdle

Joe Schmidt admitted after the game that it was hard to find a reason for Ireland not performing against New Zealand, and Rory Best spoke about the pressure associated with a World Cup quarter-final.

9.0k

Oct 21st 2019, 3:03 PM

# best man

Rory Best can bow out of rugby as one of Ireland's great captains

The hooker steps away after a quarter-final disappointment, but in his 124 caps he created so many reasons for Irish fans to hope and aim for better.

7.8k

Oct 20th 2019, 12:30 AM

# Bowing out

'We felt we prepared well, we felt we had a game-plan'

Rory Best felt Ireland had prepared well for their quarter-final clash with New Zealand, despite conceding seven tries in Tokyo.

9.2k

Oct 19th 2019, 1:47 PM

# healthy

Schmidt happy Ireland head into QF 'unscathed' after 2015 toll against France

Bundee Aki’s red card was a blow but Schmidt feels Ireland have good cover in the midfield.

17.5k

Oct 12th 2019, 8:00 PM

# Perfect start

Watch: Three early tries hand Ireland perfect start against Samoa

Converted tries from Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong and Johnny Sexton put Ireland into a 21-0 lead against Samoa.

5.4k

Oct 12th 2019, 12:22 PM

# A Rugby Life

'You realise you’re fit, healthy and have a career to look back on'

A health scare during the 2007 World Cup ended Simon Best’s career, but he is grateful for the chances he got in rugby.

24.8k

Oct 6th 2019, 8:00 AM

# Positive

'I see absolutely no similarities to 2007' - Best keeping the faith in Ireland

The Ireland skipper says it’s important not to let negativity seep into the squad in Japan.

6.6k

Oct 5th 2019, 3:30 AM

# The42 Rugby Weekly

A pack of problems: Are Ireland's forwards failing to match the intensity of the backs?

Today’s podcast suggests that the back are actually performing pretty well in Japan but are being let down by the pack.

19.3k

Oct 4th 2019, 6:31 PM

# Concern

'You don't like to see anyone going home' - Ireland hopeful on Jordi Murphy

The Ulster back row was forced off with a rib injury after just 26 minutes against Russia.

28.8k

Updated

Oct 4th 2019, 7:59 AM

# honesty

'We would have expected to be in a better place after three games' - Rory Best

The Ireland captain wants to see his side focusing on the basics that have brought them success before.

5.6k

Oct 4th 2019, 5:10 AM

'Unfortunately we couldn't come up with the right answers'

Ireland captain Rory Best admitted that the best team won as Japan shocked Ireland in Shizuoka.

7.6k

Sep 28th 2019, 10:42 AM

# Ruck Stats

Analysis: Van der Flier and tireless captain Best top Ireland's ruck charts

Joe Schmidt’s men were largely efficient with their clearouts and turned over lots of Scottish possession.

9.8k

Sep 25th 2019, 4:07 PM

# oh Captain my captain

'Those critics are always going to come' - Stander hails captain Best

The Ireland hooker inspired his side to victory against Scotland.

11.3k

Sep 22nd 2019, 10:04 PM

# Konnichiwa

Big in Japan: Ireland get warm welcome as Sexton hones in on Scotland

Joe Schmidt’s men were officially welcomed to the Rugby World Cup today.

36.1k

Sep 13th 2019, 10:03 AM

# Leadership

Confidence, cool heads and delegation key as Best leads Ireland in Japan

The Ireland skipper will be sure to rely on his vice-captains to push the team to their limit.

9.8k

Sep 12th 2019, 6:51 AM

# End of an era

'It's nice for my mum and dad and my young family to be here and hear that'

An emotional Rory Best was given a rousing reception as he played his final game at the Aviva Stadium.

13.1k

Sep 7th 2019, 5:59 PM

# On your marks!

Player ratings as Ireland steady themselves to beat Wales in RWC warm-up

Tries from Rob Kearney, James Ryan and Tadhg Furlong helped Ireland win again on the road to the World Cup

32.4k

Sep 7th 2019, 4:17 PM

# ENCOURAGING

Ireland head to Japan on top of the world after convincing win over Wales

Joe Schmidt and Rory Best signed off at the Aviva Stadium with an encouraging victory.

61.4k

107

Sep 7th 2019, 3:50 PM

# best man

'The entire row flipped and broke, but no one gave a shit because Gordon Hamilton scored'

The captain’s Lansdowne Road memories go back far beyond his full debut in 2006.

35.6k

Sep 7th 2019, 12:00 PM

# proper test match

Farrell keen to see Ireland harness emotion of Schmidt and Best send-offs

Both Joe Schmidt and Rory Best will lead Ireland for the last time in Dublin tomorrow, and Farrell is keen for a high-tempo farewell party.

7.9k

Sep 6th 2019, 6:30 AM

# final farewell

'One woman was in tears saying it was the last time I would walk off the pitch'

Rory Best will lead Ireland out for the final time on home soil this Saturday.

7.0k

Sep 5th 2019, 3:34 PM

# balanced

Schmidt's squad 'utterly committed' to getting beyond World Cup quarter-finals

The Ireland head coach is pleased with the balance and profile of his final 31-man squad.

10.0k

Sep 4th 2019, 6:30 AM