World win would be Best end
A TEARFUL Rory Best hopes to enjoy a fairytale farewell with Ireland after confirming his imminent retirement from Ulster duty.
Lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in November before hanging up his boots would provide a dream finale for Ireland’s most capped hooker.
“That is the ultimate goal,” said Best, who was overcome by emotion when confirming his
Ulster retirement at the end of the season at
yesterday’s press conference in Belfast.
“You get a bit selfish and think about lifting trophies and ultimately any young kid who plays rugby, they are doing it to lift the World Cup.
“If you can get to that point and especially if it’s your last moment in rugby – you look at Richie Mccaw (with New Zealand in 2015) – it would be incredibly special.
“But just because you dream it doesn’t mean it is going to happen. There is a lot of hard work to go between now and then.”
Best, now 36, hopes to pull on the
Ulster shirt before the end of the season, although an ankle injury means he faces a race against time.
Dan Mcfarland’s men (above) face Connacht in the Pro14 quarter-finals on May 4, with a potential semi-final lying in wait a fortnight later.
Best, capped 219 times by Ulster and a winner of four Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, with Ireland, said: “I hope to make it back for the quarter-final, but if not you have to hope the squad gets us into the semifinal.
“I’s about contributing whatever I can to Ulster for the remainder of the season and then hopefully it’s a really big summer and autumn for me.”
Ireland kick off their World Cup against Scotland on September 22, with the final on November 2.
“Hopefully, November 2 will be my last game,” said Best, who hasn’t ruled out coaching or punditry when he hangs up his boots in the Autumn.