Rory Best: “If I thought rugby was broken, I wouldn’t be here” – Ulster GM

Best’s new role at Ulster comes with myriad responsibilities, including player recruitment and retention, the academy and promoting pathways to the first team.

He returns to the club at an interesting stage after a turbulent couple of years, with chief executive Johnny Petrie and head coach Dan McFarland departing in 2024, replaced by Hugh McCaughey and Richie Murphy.

Last season, Ulster won just eight of their 23 matches in all competitions.

“Because of the nature of last season, there are of course a lot of frustrations,” Best said.

“Everyone has high expectations of this place, and when you don’t deliver, people want to ask questions. It was good to have that initial meeting [with the fans] But in the end we will be judged by what we do as an organization on the field.”

Although recent results have been more positive, Best is determined to return the county to what it was like when he was lining up on the front row: dining at the top table in Europe and competing for prizes.

This means overseeing positive results on the field and increasing Ulster representation in the Ireland squad.

Last week, there were no Ulster players in Ireland’s squad to face South Africa, but with nine players included in Ireland’s XV win over Spain earlier this month, Best is hoping to help develop players on the fringes of the Test conversation.

“From our point of view, and this is what I can comment on, we have to work hard to make sure we have the next generation of players coming through.

“But in the near term, we have to develop the kids in the academy as well as the players on this pitch.

“I know Hanadi [Iain Henderson]’A little older, but Hinde, Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob [Stockdale] Who were in that band [in November] “How can we develop them between now and the Six Nations to ensure they are in this team.”