Rory Best breaks silence on rape trial attendance controversy

Irish Captain Rory Best broke his silence regarding his attendance at the trial of Ulster teammates Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding at Laganside Crown Court this week.

In the build-up to Ireland opening Natwest 6 Nations match with France in Paris, an aggressive online campaign was launched against Best after he and fellow Irish international Iain Henderson were pictured at the rape trial.

Using the hashtag #notmycaptain, the campaign questioned why the 35-year-old was in attendance at the trial of his friend and teammate given the sensitive nature of the charges against the players and the fact that the alleged victim in the case was giving evidence on the day that they attended.

Best broke his silence at the post-France press conference and explained exactly why he was at the trial.

“We sign out on Tuesday night, Wednesday is our day off, so technically we don’t need permission to do stuff on our own time.

“The reason I was there, it’s on the record I’ve been called as a character witness. I was advised it was important to attend, so I got both sides of the story.

“Because it’s an ongoing legal matter, I will make no further comment than that.”

The online ‘outrage’ saw hundreds of social media posts claim they would not be watching Ireland’s match against France as a result of the attendance of the Irish captain at the trial.

The following tweets give a flavour of the #notmycaptain campaign.

Passionate about rugby, but can not and will not ignore the fact that our captain refuses to address his questionable actions. He should be thoroughly ashamed. Irish rugby has handled this awful situation with very little compassion #NotMyCaptain

— Katie (@whatkhdid) February 2, 2018

“Shoulder to shoulder” unless youre 21, female and about to give testimony about the worst night of your life. #notmycaptain

— Ash (@Aisling_Pash) February 2, 2018

https://twitter.com/RoughanMac/status/959188506064117761

What about the women of Ireland @RoryBest2?Did you spare a thought for the girls who put on their jerseys again and again to throw their support behind you?while you throw your support behind alleged rapists who clearly have no respect for women! #notmycaptain

— Sarah Hegarty (@HeggersKeggers) February 2, 2018

https://twitter.com/modernbanshee/status/959866072307511298