Rory Ready To Play

Ireland hooker Rory Best spoke today about his shock at the health scare for brother Simon and his determination to be available for the World Cup Pool D game against Argentina on Sunday.

The news about the health scare for Ireland prop Simon Best proved a huge shock for Irish squad and fans alike, but none more so than his brother Rory.

Hooker Rory played in Ireland’s opening World Cup games against Namibia and Georgia but picked up a thumb dislocation in the latter game. It was initially thought that he would be be out for the final two matches of the tournament’s pool stages.

But this week he came back into contention and has been selected on the bench for the game against Argentina after confirming his fitness and assuring coach Eddie O’Sullivan that he wanted to be considered.

All of this was overshadowed by the hospitalisation of his brother Simon on Wednesday evening. Rory spoke to IrishRugby.ie earlier today about it.

“It was a big shock to myself and our family and came totally out of the blue. He was just out with Paddy (Wallace) walking in Bordeaux on our day off when he started to feel unwell,” Rory explained.

“They got back to the hotel immediately and the doc (Gary O’Driscoll) got him straight to hospital. While we were all very concerned about him, he has come through really well and was in good form last night when I was with him. His wife Katie was there as well and he was up talking with us all, so he has improved an awful lot.”

Simon was able to receive visitors last night and Eddie O’Sullivan and Niall O’Donovan, along with IRFU Management Committee Chairman John Hussey, were delighted to be able to visit him and check on his progress.