'No silver bullet' to fix Ulster issues, says new GM Best

Former Ireland captain Rory Best will return to Ulster as general manager

New Ulster general manager Rory Best says there is no "silver bullet" to fixing any issues, adding he wants to "drive" the province forward.

Best, who won 124 Ireland caps and played for the club for 15 years until he retired in 2019, will start his new role on Tuesday.

The 43-year-old replaces his former Ulster team-mate Bryn Cunningham, who left in September after 11 years.

"Ultimately, it's about making sure that if anyone thinks there is going to be a silver bullet, or you can go out and wave a wand to fix everything that people perceive to be broken overnight, it's not the case," Best told BBC Sport NI's Gavin Andrews in Chicago.

"Rugby organisations are generally run in a similar way. Even on the pitch, everyone plays similar tactics but some teams do it better than others.

"Part of my job is making sure we do what is right for Ulster Rugby and we do it to the best of our ability.

"It's probably that leadership side of things that I want to bring to it so that we can go out and be the best version of ourselves."

Best said conversations about returning to Ulster were "triggered" by Cunningham's resignation from the United Rugby Championship side.

He had discussions with David Humphreys, performance director of the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU], and Ulster chief executive Hugh McCaughey about the possibility of coming on board.

Best admitted it was "in the balance" as he had a corporate job in London for three days a week, but he accepted after a bit of "back and forward" about what he could bring to the province.

"Ultimately, it's about what you can add to the foundations that are already there, and to try to keep moving and keep the province moving forward," added the former Ireland captain.

Ulster had a disastrous 2024-25 season as they missed out on Champions Cup rugby by finishing outside the top eight in the URC.

However, Richie Murphy's side have made a strong start to the current campaign with three wins from four matches.

When asked if it was a challenge, Best said: "It is, but I think you've seen a turn in fortunes this season with the performances on the pitch.

"It's like all of these things, it has to start with the performance on the pitch and it drips down, right through the organisation."

Provinces our 'super strength'

Working alongside McCaughey, Best said there are "numerous legs" to his role as general manager, which will include recruitment and retention, the academy and pathway to the senior team and a corporate side to his position.

He added the provincial set-up in Ireland - with Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connacht - is "very unique" and feels it is a "super strength".

"As much as anything it is about really trying to get the connection I felt as a player to the community and to the clubs, to the schools and to the supporters. It's about trying to cement that connection," said Best.

"I've been lucky enough to play rugby right around the world and what we have in the provinces is very different. That is our strength, it's our super strength.

"That is what we have to really hammer home and it's what will attract top players to come. That's what is going to make sure our best young talent is identified and brought through.

"It's all in the provincial side of it, so we have to make sure really harness that connection."

Hooker Best played for Ulster for 15 years until his retirement in 2019

After being away from Ulster's Ravenhill home for six years, Best said his first port of call was "probably meeting everyone again".

"It's funny, it's only been six years since I retired but it seems like a lifetime," he admitted.

"It'll be going in, getting reacquainted with everyone and just start to move forward".

The two-time British and Irish Lion said he had to get to grips with his new position with Ulster "very, very quickly".

"When you look at it from the outside, as a player previously and the last six years as a supporter, you think there are certain things that aren't being done or could be done better.

"Then you go in and see that maybe they are.

"Then it's a case of going, 'right, now I see the clear course of direction', and drive us there."