The northern province's take on Connacht tomorrow with Rory Best and Darren Cave looking to exit on a high with a spot in the PRO14 semi-finals up for grabs.

Ulster and Ireland captain Rory Best has confirmed that he will retire from professional rugby when his contract expires after the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Rory Best is as happy as a man wearing a moon boot can be.

Ireland captain Rory Best has given the clearest signal yet that he will retire from international rugby after this autumn’s World Cup campaign in Japan.

At the 2011 World Cup, Rory Best damaged the AC joint in his shoulder in the final pool game against Italy.

If this is Rory Best in the winter of his career, then Irish rugby better prepare for a very long cold spell.

Rory Best believes that Joe Schmidt's legacy will extend far beyond mere silverware regardless of when the Kiwi head coach decides to call it a day with the Ireland national team.

Ireland duo Rory Best and Jacob Stockdale are ready to bear their teeth against Connacht at the Kingspan Stadium this evening when Ulster attempt to get over the humiliation of that record defeat in Limerick.

Rory Best has admitted he was hurt by former Ireland team-mate Brian O’Driscoll’s description of Ulster Rugby as a “basket case”.

Rory Best returns to captain Ulster in Friday’s crucial Guinness PRO14 Round 19 trip to Edinburgh.

The man who rules European rugby astride a turbo-charged zimmer frame is contracted to make his last stand next year at the age of 37, assuming he lasts that long.

Ireland captain Rory Best and full-back Rob Kearney have signed new contracts with the Irish Rugby Football Union until the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Jordan Larmour can bridge the Test match generation gap and produce his "devastating" best on his Ireland debut tomorrow, according to Rory Best.

Ireland and Ulster rugby captain Rory Best says he is to be a character witness at the trial of two teammates for rape.

Jackson, from Oakleigh Park in Belfast, and Olding, from Ardenlee Street in the city, deny raping the same woman at a house in south Belfast in June 2016. Jackson denies a further charge of sexual assault.

Rory Best expects to finalise a new contract with Ulster and Ireland "in the very near future".

Rory Best believes Ireland’s meticulous player management should stop many more top stars following Simon Zebo’s lead in moving to France for next season.

Rory Best believes Ireland’s meticulous player management should stop many more top stars following Simon Zebo’s lead in moving to France for next season.

Rory Best, who will win his 200th cap for Ulster in Saturday’s Guinness Pro14 inter-provincial derby in Belfast says that, if selected, he is ready to lead Ireland again in the Autumn Test series.

It’s not for nothing that Rory Best is captain of Ulster and Ireland and the studied diplomacy so often required in such roles was evident even when he administered a light slap on the wrists yesterday for Sean O’Brien.

Rory Best looks set to be ruled out for up to six weeks after picking up an injury.

Rory Best will captain the British and Irish Lions in Tuesday's Hurricanes clash, with George Kruis the only tourist asked to feature again having played in the first Test defeat to the All Blacks.

The British & Irish Lions will have to smarten up at scrum time and focus on painting better pictures for referees following the frustrations in defeat to the Highlanders.

Are four captains better than one?

Rory Best insists Ireland will not be stung by any added ferocity of facing Wales under a closed roof in Cardiff on Friday night.

Ireland captain Rory Best will miss the RBS 6 Nations match against Italy in Rome due to illness, the Irish Rugby Football Union has announced.

Rory Best insists Dylan Hartley still has plenty of time to state a compelling case for the British and Irish Lions’ captaincy.

Ireland captain Rory Best has warned of the dangers of dreaming of an historic first victory over the All Blacks tonight (8pm Irish time). 

Rory Best has been hailed as one of Ireland’s toughest ever Test competitors as the captain closes in on 100 caps.

Rory Best was stating the obvious when he said the Guinness PRO12 is now down to knock-out rugby.

Thousands of volunteers are hitting the streets this morning collecting for the Special Olympics as part of their national fundraising day.

Ireland rugby union captain Rory Best believes today's Six Nations game with England will come down to "small margins".

"We've got to make sure we don't start this game tomorrow cold, the way we did against Wales."

Rory Best has vowed to lead Ireland in the same vein as renowned captains Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll.

Joe Schmidt has unveiled Rory Best as his new captain.

Keith Wood has called on Joe Schmidt to appoint Rory Best as Ireland’s captain for the Six Nations.

Ronan O’Gara on all the latest talking points from Les Kiss to the next Ireland captain

Ireland boss Joe Schmidt will struggle to replace “one of the best defence coaches in the world” in Les Kiss, according to Rory Best.

As the players around him began dropping like flies last Sunday, the experience of Rory Best at the heart of the scrum and hitting rucks became more and more crucial.

“Come Sunday at one o’clock on the pitch there won’t be anyone to hold your hand.“