Ireland
Best extends Ireland and Ulster contract
ESPN Staff
December 17, 2013
Rory Best will play in Ireland for a while longer © PA Photos
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Ireland hooker Rory Best has extended his contract with Ulster after signing a new deal to take him up to June 2016.

Best has won 70 caps for Ireland and was a late call-up to the British & Irish Lions series in the summer. He follows in the footsteps of Donnacha Ryan in committing his future to the Irish Rugby Football Union.

"Rory Best is the cornerstone of the Ulster Rugby team and leads by example," Ulster director of rugby David Humphreys said. "You would struggle to find anyone who is more committed on the rugby field, nor someone who is more passionate about playing for his province.

"He has represented Ulster for the best part of a decade now and he has achieved some of the highest honours that the game has to offer. He will be a key player in our team as we continue to build and improve in the coming years and I am delighted that he has signed this new contract."

Best added: "I am pleased to have signed for a further two years. It is a massive honour to play for Ireland and Ulster. The support that I received when I missed out on the initial Lions squad was a massive factor in me making the decision to stay.

"That made me feel very special and underlined to me that Ulster is more than a team, it is a community and a rugby family. I want to keep playing for Ireland for as long as I can and to try and win a few more things in the green jersey."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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