Best wins fitness race to say fond farewell

Rory Best’s ankle injury has cleared up in time to allow him to have the send-off he hoped for, and the Ireland captain suspects he’ll be an emotional wreck when he says goodbye at the Kingspan Stadium tonight.

The 36-year-old, who is retiring after the World Cup later this year, will lead Ulster out for the last time on home soil for the PRO14 quarter-final against Connacht, just five weeks after leaving the Aviva Stadium on crutches.