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.

The recently-married Best is currently on holiday trying to come to terms with the implications of the news but he intends trying to continue his rugby career after the surgery.

Ulster Operations Director David Humphreys described the injury as a huge blow for Irish rugby, but stressed that the most important issue was Best’s long-term health and safety.

“The timing of the injury presents difficulties as most players are contracted for the upcoming season and while we have strengthened out options in relation to the hooking position by signing Andy Kyriacou this summer, we will now have to look again for a replacement for Rory. Most players of the type of quality required to play at this level are already contracted, so this is a problem for us,” said Humphreys.

Former Irish international prop forward Reggie Corrigan has been tagged with helping Leinster stay on top of the European ladder following his appointment as provincial scrum coach for the Heineken Cup champions.

The former loose-head prop represented Ireland on 47 occasions after making his debut against Canada in November 1997 and was a key figure in helping Ireland lift the Tripe Crown in 2004.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be back involved with Leinster at what is an extremely exciting period for the province at all levels,” said Corrigan.

“There is an excellent batch of young forwards coming through the various underage levels and I see this role as a crucial means of developing the scrum across the province. My remit will be working with the U20’s and the Academy and the various age grade groups in clubs and schools across the province.

“I hope this will lead to an improvement in the standard of scrimmaging, as well as enhancing the development of young props and to a greater standard of safety for the players.”