Signings, systems and schools - what awaits Best in new Ulster role?

Given he was a part of the squad that won the Celtic League in 2006, Rory Best will need no reminding that we are approaching the 20-year anniversary of Ulster Rugby's most recent piece of silverware.

The Ulster and Ireland legend confirmed on Wednesday that, six years after the end of his playing career, he would be returning to his home province in the role of general manager.

Across a 15-year playing career at Ravenhill, the former hooker played in Ulster teams of varying abilities but he returns to BT6 with the side at a particularly low ebb after their failure to qualify for this season's Champions Cup, the first time they have missed out on the top-tier European competition in their history.

Richie Murphy's men have, however, made an encouraging start to the 2025-26 campaign with three wins from four games.

With Best's remit covering matters on and off the field, BBC Sport NI looks at the big issues facing the two-time British and Irish Lion when he starts his new role.

From his debut off the bench against the All Blacks in 2005, through vying with Jerry Flannery for a starting berth and, ultimately, captaining the side on some of their greatest days, when Best was fit he was a permanent presence in the Ireland squad for well over a decade.

Since his retirement after the 2019 World Cup, however, Ulster representation in Andy Farrell's Test panel has been dwindling.

Stuart McCloskey, Iain Henderson, Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney are the only four Ulster players in the 36-man squad preparing to face the All Blacks in Chicago on Saturday. The youngest of that quartet - winger Stockdale - is 29-years-old.

There are, however, 10 players in the Ireland 'A' squad that will take on Spain on the same day so there are plenty more of Murphy's panel at least on the radar of national selectors.

Just as when he was a player, Best will appreciate that he is primarily employed not by Ulster but the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and helping players from white jerseys into green ones is a primary objective.

With 124 caps to his name, few are better placed to offer advice on how not to just get into an Ireland squad but stay there and also critique just what structures at the Affidea Stadium are causing players' careers to stall before making the jump to Test level.

When the IRFU's performance director David Humphreys gave a media briefing in June, he emphasised his belief that the school system was the key to ensuring Ulster, as well as Munster and Connacht, reached the standards set by Leinster in both the United Rugby Championship and the Champions Cup.

"I fundamentally believe, based on my experience, what we've seen working through the Irish system is that if we can support players below what is traditionally considered the pathway, going into the schools and putting directors of rugby in there or supporting schools in a way they feel is necessary to improve their rugby programme, we can get a longer-term fix which will ultimately improve the provinces and ultimately support Ireland," he said.

While Best's rugby journey started at Banbridge Rugby Club, he played at Portadown College during his own school days and will be well versed in both the game at that level and potential directors of rugby to fill the roles spoken of by Humphreys during the summer.

The fruits of such labour will not be clear for some time but, arguably, will be among the most pressing matters that Best must address.

When Best won the only medal of his club career in 2006, it was in a side captained by Australian Justin Harrison. Arguably the best provincial side he was a part of - the Ulster squad of 2013-14 - contained Ruan Pienaar, Johann Muller, Jared Payne, John Afoa and Nick Williams, as well as Irish-qualified imports such as Tom Court and Dan Tuohy.

He should then, presumably, appreciate the value of a canny signing.

The new season at Ulster may only be four games old but we are already approaching the stage of the campaign when most business for the 2026-27 season will be conducted.

Best's predecessor Bryn Cunningham appeared to have an impressive final spate of signings last year, inking Juarno Augustus and Angus Bell to deals. The former has been limited to 123 minutes so far for Ulster, while Wallaby prop Bell's short-term pact begins only after his country's autumn Tests next month.

There are still areas where the squad can improve and Best's will be a new voice in the room when it comes to squad needs and talent evaluation.

When those targets have been established, whether from abroad or within Ireland, his standing in the game should prove beneficial in negotiations too.

In a similar vein, it would be folly for Ulster not to make the most of that name recognition when it comes to attracting new sponsors too.