Mark Best (rugby union)

Last updated

Mark Best
Mark Best.png
Birth nameMark Best
Date of birth (1994-04-01) 1 April 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre/Fly-half
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Belfast Harlequins ()
Ballymena ()
2022– Ballynahinch ()
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2015–2017 Ulster 11 (16)
2017–2020 Jersey Reds 47 (25)
2020–2022 Doncaster Knights 0 (0)
Correct as of 28 January 2021
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012–2013 Ireland U18s
Correct as of 28 January 2021

Mark Best (born 1 April 1994) is an Irish Rugby union player

He originally played for Belfast Harlequins in Division 2B in the All Ireland League. Best is a graduate of the Ulster Rugby Academy system and started the 2016/17 season on a development contract with the Ulster senior squad. [1] [2] Best has been part of the Ulster set-up from under 18 level, at which age group he also played for Ireland. [3]

He was a regular feature in the Irish province's British and Irish Cup campaigns over two seasons and captaining Ulster 'A'. [4] He played domestic rugby for Ballymena in the All-Ireland League when not used by Ulster. [5]

On 3 May 2017, Best left Ireland to join Channel Island based Jersey Reds in the English RFU Championship from the 2017–18 season. [6] He made his first team debut for Jersey against Doncaster Knights in the Championship opener in September 2017. [7] On 2 June 2020, He left Jersey to join Championship rivals Doncaster Knights from the 2020–21 season. [8] He retired from professional rugby at the end of the 2022-23 season and returned to Northern Ireland, working as a building surveyor and playing and coaching at an amateur level with Ballynahinch. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulster Rugby</span> Rugby union team in island of Ireland

Ulster Rugby is one of the four professional provincial rugby union teams from the island of Ireland. They compete in the Irish regional pool of the United Rugby Championship and in the European Rugby Champions Cup, each of which they have won once. Ulster were the first Irish team and the first team outside England and France to win the European Cup in 1999.

The Ulster Senior League, currently known as the Ulster Rugby Premiership, is a rugby union competition for senior clubs in the Irish province of Ulster. It was formed by the then Northern Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union in October 1890. It has traditionally being ranked second in importance to the Ulster Senior Cup. It has declined in importance due to the formation of the All-Ireland League and growth in importance of the Heineken Cup.

Neil George Doak is a Northern Irish former cricketer and rugby union player. He currently works as a rugby union coach, and has served as attack and backs coach with English club side Worcester Warriors, and Georgia during the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup. Doak previously worked as attack and backs coach of Irish provincial side Ulster from 2008 to 2017, where he also spent his professional playing career. During his time with Ulster, he had brief stints as a coach with Ireland and Emerging Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Humphreys (rugby union)</span> Ireland international rugby union player

David Humphreys MBE is an Irish former rugby union player. He played 72 times for Ireland, scoring 560 points, including 6 tries, and at the time of his international retirement was Ireland's most capped out-half. He played his club rugby for London Irish and Ulster, winning the 1998-99 Heineken Cup, the 2004 Celtic Cup and the 2005–06 Celtic League with the latter. Since retiring as a player he has served as director of rugby for Ulster and Gloucester, as a performance consultant with the Georgian Rugby Union, and Director of Performance Operations with the England and Wales Cricket Board. Since June 2024 he has been Performance Director of the IRFU.

Andrew Warwick is an Irish rugby union player who plays loosehead prop for Ulster Rugby.

Ross Kane is a professional rugby union player from Northern Ireland, who played at tighthead prop for Ulster and Ealing Trailfinders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matty Rea</span> Rugby player

Matthew Rea is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays for Ulster as a back row forward.

Michael Lowry is an Irish rugby union player from Northern Ireland who plays fullback and out-half for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster, and internationally for Ireland. Doubted early on because of his small stature, he has exceptional footwork and acceleration. Ireland coach Andy Farrell describes him as a "nightmare" to play against, praising his explosiveness and bravery.

Angus Kernohan is an Irish rugby union player playing for RFU Championship side Ealing Trailfinders. He plays as a winger, but can also play at centre.

Adam McBurney is an Irish rugby union player who currently plays for Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stewart Moore</span> Irish rugby union player

Stewart Moore is an Irish rugby union player who plays centre for Ulster. Ulster coach Dan McFarland describes him as "a lovely balanced runner who can cause defences problems". Ulster and Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale calls him " a serious talent ... one of those players where everything seems to come naturally for him. Really good passer, kicker, good feet ... a very, very talented all-rounder".

George Ross Adair is an Irish cricketer and former rugby union player.

Ben Moxham is an Irish rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Neve Jones is an Irish rugby player from Ballymena. She plays for Gloucester-Hartpury, Ulster and the Ireland women's national rugby union team.

The 2018–19 season was Ulster's 25th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Dan McFarland's first season as head coach. Rory Best was captain. They competed in the Pro14, making the semi-finals, and the European Rugby Champions Cup, making the quarter-finals.

The 2017–18 season was Ulster's 24th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Jono Gibbes' only season as head coach. Rory Best was captain. They competed in the inaugural Pro14 and the European Rugby Champions Cup.

The 2016–17 season was Ulster's 23rd season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and the third under Director of Rugby Les Kiss and head coach Neil Doak. They completed in the European Rugby Champions Cup and the final season of the Pro12 before it became the Pro14 with the addition of two teams from South Africa.

The 1997–98 season was Ulster Rugby's third season under professionalism, during which they competed in the Heineken Cup and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. Ulster Rugby Limited was incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee on 9 May 1997.

The 1999–2000 season was Ulster Rugby's fifth season under professionalism, and Harry Williams's second season as head coach. They competed in the Heineken Cup and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship.

References

  1. ↑ "CONGRATULATIONS TO MALONE PLAYERS SELECTED FOR ULSTER U20". Malone RFC. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  2. ↑ "Mark Best on Jersey, Doncaster and the Championship". Talking Rugby Union. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "Methody looks to be in formidable form". The Irish Times. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "Best is raring to bounce back in wake of horror tackle". Belfast Telegraph. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Ballymena Match Report". Ballymena Rugby Club. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "Jersey Reds: Matt Rogerson, Mark Best and Rory Bartle join Championship side". BBC Sport. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Championship: Jersey Reds 24-26 Doncaster Knights". BBC Sport. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Doncaster Knights sign Jersey Reds centre Mark Best". Doncaster Free Press. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  9. ↑ Jonathan Bradley, "English rugby’s financial woes means good Irish players will miss out on pro chances: Mark Best", Belfast Telegraph, 29 September 2023


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.