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Best aiming for big things ahead of new season

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Ireland’s summer tour to South Africa was barely a month ago but already hooker Rory Best is making plans for the new season.

Ireland’s summer tour to South Africa was barely a month ago but already hooker Rory Best is making plans for the new season.

The skipper – who led Ireland to a third-placed finish in the 2016 RBS 6 Nations – will return to pre-season with his club side Ulster a bit later than his teammates following his exertions against the Springboks.

But the hooker – whose province lost in the Guinness PRO12 semi-finals last season – admits he has unfinished business ahead of the 2016/17 season.

“There really is a lot of excitement building around here, you just see the freshness you get after a bit of time away from each other,” Best told the Ulster website.

“The first week of pre-season is something you dread, you know it’s going to be tough, your legs are going to be sore and your body’s going to be sore.

“As the years go by it nearly gets a bit harder but it’s great to be back in, it was a nice break but it felt like a very short break.

“To meet the new guys, see all the familiar faces and be back in with the staff and there is a buzz for the new season.

“We’re aiming for big things here, when Les (Kiss) took over that was always his thing that we wouldn’t settle for second best.

“We took small steps last year but we know we’ve so much more to come.”