Best confirmed as new Ulster Rugby General Manager

Best retired from international and club rugby in 2019

Rory Best will return to Ulster Rugby as General Manager, succeeding Bryn Cunningham who announced he was stepping down in September.

The former Ireland and Ulster captain retired from playing after the 2019 World Cup before taking up coaching roles with Fiji and Major League Rugby side Seattle Seawolves, while also featuring as a pundit.

However, the 43-year-old returns back to Ravenhill in a different guise as the province continues a rebuilding job on and off the pitch following a difficult few seasons.

Ulster confirmed the appointment in a statement on Wednesday, adding that Best will oversee professional rugby operations, player development and performance pathways for the club.

"Ulster Rugby has been a huge part of my life, and it's an incredible honour to return in this capacity," Best said.

"I know what this club means to the players, the staff, our supporters, and sponsors. I'm excited to play a role in helping Ulster achieve its potential, building on the strong foundations that are already in place."

Ulster Rugby CEO Hugh McCaughey called the appointment a "landmark moment" for the club, adding that the recruitment of the former captain was about "reconnecting with the values and identity that have always made Ulster special."

Cunningham, who played 150 times for Ulster, announced last month he was stepping down as general manager after 11 years in the role "to take on a new challenge".

Part of Cunningham's remit was in player recruitment and retention, while the 47-year-old confirmed a "robust 3–5-year strategy" has been put in place to turn the province's fortunes around.

His announcement came just days before a pre-season friendly with Edinburgh, having secured the signatures of Juarno Augustus and Angus Bell.

Best will be tasked with building on Cunningham's work to help turn Ulster back into contenders in the United Rugby Championship and return to the Champions Cup, having missed out on qualification for Europe's blue riband competition this season.

Analysis: Best's status carries weight but improving pathways key

The role that Rory Best will fill at the Affidea Stadium has underwent numerous changes through the years. For all its different titles, however, recruitment has always been a core piece of the puzzle.

First known as operations director when then chief executive office Mike Reid created the post in 2008, David Humphreys was the first former player with his feet under the desk.

Humphreys, who is now performance director of the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU], was a legend of the province, the playing captain when the side won the European Cup in 1999 and, at that time, no Ulster player had won more Irish caps.

It was hoped his standing in rugby circles would hold sway when negotiating with the biggest names in the game and so it proved with Ruan Pienaar, Johann Muller, John Afoa and Pedrie Wannenburg among his early signings.

With Best a 124-times capped Irish international and captain on some of the side's greatest days in their modern history, the 43-year-old will be expected to have similar pull around the negotiating table as his former team-mate.

One key difference, however, will be the funds available. Despite the impressive recruitment of Northampton number eight Juarno Agustus and Wallaby prop Angus Bell for this campaign, Ulster no longer can afford to splash the cash in the way they once did.

As such, Best's success in improving "player development and performance pathways" will be key to turning around the side's fortunes.

From his own career, the two-time British and Irish Lion knows what it takes to go from provincial prospect to Test stalwart and his experience and knowledge figures to be a real boon in Ulster's attempts to again pull their weight when it comes to Irish squad representation.