Rory Best to make a decision on his career

Ulster and Ireland captain Rory Best has confirmed that he will make a decision on his career after Ireland’s November Tests.

The 36-year-old hooker is contracted with Ireland until the end of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Best said he will decide on his future after Ireland's upcoming Tests against Italy, Argentina, New Zealand and USA in November.

“I think I’ll make a decision on that in due course,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.

“It’ll not be something that I’ll leave until the last minute because if it is my last season, the club means too much to me to do something in the 11th hour and say ‘that’s it for me’ and leave them no time to replace me.

“We’re at the stage now where I’m contracted to the end of the World Cup and a big focus of mine is going to be getting back, getting fit, getting rid of the injuries and the niggles, and focusing on this (first) part of the season with Ulster, and then the autumn internationals, and then we’ll maybe sit down and have a look at it.

“I’ll have played PRO14, I’ll have played Europe and I’ll have played international so we’ll see how the body is holding up.

“If it’s to be another 12 months, 16 or 18 months we’ll make a decision then, and that’s obviously even if there is anything offered post World Cup if we do want it. Where I’ll end up afterwards, we’ll wait and see.”