page_title: Rory Best
section_title: Early life
hierarchical_section_title: Rory Best / Early life
caption_attribution_description: English: Ulster &amp; Ireland hooker Rory Best lining out for Ulster against Ospreys in a Magner's League game at Ravenhill, Belfast.
context_page_description: Rory David Best OBE is a former rugby union player from Northern Ireland and was the captain of the Ireland national team from 2016 to 2019. He played hooker for Ulster and was registered for Banbridge RFC, having previously represented the Newcastle Agrics. Best earned 124 caps for Ireland, making his debut in 2005 and retiring at the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, his fourth World Cup. Best is one of the most capped rugby players of all time, as well as the most-capped forward to ever represent Ireland.
  Best toured with the British and Irish Lions side in 2013 and 2017.
context_section_description: Best was raised in Poyntzpass, County Armagh. His mother is English, from Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. He was educated at Tandragee Junior High School, Portadown College. He then studied Agriculture at The University of Newcastle.
caption: Best appearing for Ulster in 2012 Magner's League match versus Ospreys
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