Best happy to stay in Irish ‘rugby family’

Ireland hooker Rory Best praised the support he received from the Ireland and Ulster rugby family following his initial omission from last summer’s Lions tour as a “massive factor” behind his signing of a new IRFU contract.

Best, 31, yesterday put pen to paper on a two-year central contract that will see him remain with his native Ulster until June 2016.

Best, who won his 70th Ireland cap against New Zealand last month, had been overlooked by Lions head coach Warren Gatland when his 34-man squad to tour Australia was announced in May. But rival hooker Dylan Hartley’s suspension on the eve of the tour saw the Irishman called up and he made four appearances, captaining the side against the ACT Brumbies.