NEWS: ULSTER AND Ireland prop Simon Best has announced his retirement from professional rugby following his most recent medical assessment.
Best dramatically took ill in Bordeaux adding a more critical dimension to what was an already fraught World Cup for the Irish team. The Ulster player suffered an episode of an irregular heart rhythm.
He was subsequently hospitalised in France before being transferred home, where his condition was closely monitored. While he was quickly out of any danger from the condition, he has been undergoing constant monitoring since the end of the tournament to determine if he would be able to resume training at the highest level.
Although Best has suffered no further episodes, or, long-term effects and does not attribute his condition to his participation in rugby, medical experts have advised against resuming the intense levels of training and playing required for a professional career in rugby union.
"It is with great sadness that I am forced to retire from the game at this stage in my career," he said in a statement yesterday.
"However, I have no regrets and feel immensely proud and privileged to have represented both Ulster and Ireland for the past nine years. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with coaches, management and players that I have had the utmost respect for and have formed lifelong friendships with many."
Best represented and captained Ulster, Ireland A and Ireland in a career that also saw him capped at international level at schools, under-19, under-21 and under-23. Coming from Poyntzpass in Co Armagh and educated at Portadown College and Newcastle University, he began his professional rugby career in 1996 on a semi-professional basis with Newcastle Falcons RFC before joining Ulster in 1999.
In 2005 he took up the role of Ulster captain, a position he held for two years, leading the team to the Magners League title in 2005/06.
He won his first senior Ireland cap as a replacement against Tonga in June 2003 and made his first start the following August in the Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Wales. He was subsequently selected in the 2003 Rugby World Cup squad and remained part of the Ireland squad for the next four years, scoring his first and only try for Ireland against Japan in the first Test of the tour in 2005.
He captained Ireland in two Tests during their tour to Argentina in 2007 and was also selected for his second World Cup tournament where he made three appearances before being ruled out due to his condition.
"Simon has been an integral member of the Ireland squad since he won his first cap in 2003," said Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan.
"He was an incredibly honest, talented and hard working player in every aspect of his participation in the game and a model professional. In addition to that, he was and still is an extremely popular guy with all the players and it is very unfortunate that his career has been cut short by this condition, when he still had so much more to offer Irish rugby. I would like to wish Simon and his family the best of luck for the future," O'Sullivan added.
