Magners League Official Website : Ulster name Best as Captain

Ulster name Best as Captain

17 May 2005, 5:59 pm

By Janet Farmer

Ulster have named Simon Best as the Ulster Rugby Captain for the 2005-06 season.

Best (27), who was named in Ireland's 26 man touring squad to Japan this summer, made his Ulster debut against Connacht in 1999 and has accumulated 85 Ulster caps. He has become a mainstay of the Ulster pack over the past few seasons and has represented Ireland at Senior, A, U25, U21, U19 and Schools levels.

Best takes over the captaincy from Andy Ward who has held the position for four seasons and who earlier this year announced his retirement from rugby.

Ulster Rugby Chief Executive Michael Reid said; "With the new breed of players coming through the Ulster Rugby 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. Simon is hugely respected by both the management and his team-mates and I'm sure he will bring a fresh outlook to the Ulster captaincy"