Simon Best (born 11 February 1978) is a former Irish
rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...
footballer. He played for
Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...
and was club captain in Ulster's 2005/06
Celtic League
The Celtic League is a pan-Celtic organisation, founded in 1961, that aims to promote modern Celtic identity and culture in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man – referred to as the Celtic nations; it places part ...
winning season. Simon missed the final game of Ulster' successful campaign in 2005/06 due to a broken ankle sustained while playing against
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets () are one of the four professional Welsh rugby union teams and are based in Llanelli, Wales. Their home ground is the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup (which ...
in the penultimate game of the season.
Simon is the brother of the former Ireland and Ulster hooker
Rory Best
Rory David Best (born 15 August 1982) is an Irish former rugby union player from Northern Ireland and was the captain of the Ireland national team from 2016 to 2019. He played hooker for Ulster and was registered for Banbridge RFC, having pr ...
. He was educated at
Portadown College
Portadown College is an academically selective, co-educational post-14 grammar school in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.
History
Preparatory Department
Portadown College Preparatory Department was founded in 1921 as the Carlet ...
and has also represented
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
at
schools
A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compulsor ...
, U19, U21, U25 and
A levels. He later studied Agriculture at
Newcastle University
Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a UK public university, public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is ...
.
Arches Online – Alumni – Newcastle University
On 26 September 2007 Best was rushed to hospital in Bordeaux with a loss of feeling down his side. He was immediately pulled out of the Ireland World Cup side and returned home. On 25 February 2008, Best announced his retirement from rugby due to an irregular heartbeat. He stated he would no longer be able to sustain the high level of training that playing professional rugby required.
References
External links
Ulster profile
Ireland profile
Irish prop Best forced to retire
1978 births
Living people
Irish rugby union players
Ireland international rugby union players
Ulster Rugby players
Belfast Harlequins rugby union players
Rugby union props
Alumni of Newcastle University
Rugby union players from County Armagh
People from Craigavon, County Armagh
People educated at Portadown College
Ireland Wolfhounds international rugby union players
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