Best injury a blow for Irish and Ulster plans

IRISH rugby has been dealt a serious blow with the news that Ulster captain and hooker Rory Best will miss the upcoming season.

The Irish squad and Munster are still coming to terms with the injury sustained in late May that will keep Jerry Flannery out for some more weeks, but Best’s situation is a real body-blow in national terms.

It has been discovered that Best is suffering from an underlying chronic disc injury in his neck which requires surgery and a lengthy recovery period of between nine and 12 months.