Rory Best to remain as Ireland captain
Friday 10 November 2017 18:15, UK
Rory Best will captain Ireland for this season before head coach Joe Schmidt reassess his World Cup 2019 plans next summer.
Best has won 104 caps for his country but he will be aged 37 when the next tournament begins in Japan in 2019.
Only John Hayes has been capped for Ireland at that age and Schmidt will make a decision on whether Best remains in the role for an extended period.
Live International Rugby Union
"If Joe had wanted to make a change of captain, he would have made the change," said Best, who has shaken off a hamstring problem to lead Ireland in their autumn Test opener against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday - live on Sky Sports.
"But he said early enough in one of the summer camps that as long as I was happy to continue, that I would be captain again, and then we'd reassess at the end of the season, on where we were, what's going on, and how I felt.
"I suppose that's probably something for the end of the season but it was nice to be asked again.
"When you're in that position you never like to assume anything, so it was good when Joe said they'd like me to do it again for the season.
"It gave me the confidence that he liked what I was doing, that he felt I was doing a good job."
Watch Ireland v South Africa on Saturday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action at 5:15pm.
