With so many changes in the on the field and off the field personnel we need all the character we can get. Without Neil Best in the setup we will be reliant on Craig Gillies (no bad thing) to bring he players back to a place of team work, Worcester passion and playing for each other with the sole aim of winning as a team.
When we were in the Championship I remember having a chat with Neil post game. In those days (not really that long ago) the players would join fans for a beer in the Scrum Club after a game in a very relaxed and unstructured way. Anyway, we were talking about my son who was 18 months old at the time and that being a proud Dad I was sure he would grow up to be a strapping back row and would love him to be just like Best, he replied "What? You want him to have skin like mine and a nose like this? What kind of a Dad are you?" His response was so dead pan I almost didn't know what to do with myself. Luckily he couldn't hold his laughter for too long and added "Seriously though, why do you want him to be like me? I'm a dinosaur in rugby terms you want him to be more like the lad Kvesic" The conversation went on but this sums up my thinking of Neil Best. A massive character, ever the comedien but also a consumate rugby professional. The man clearly held every club he played for close to his heart and played every minute of every game like it was his last.
From 2002 Best played for Ulster putting in over 100 appearances before switching to Saints in 2008.
Neil joined us for the fight back into the Premiership in 2010 and was an outstanding performer. Hopefully not too many of the London Scottish fans read his not so complementary comments about the RFU Championship and the oposition he faced!
Having played for Ireland 18 times Best built a reputation as a hard hitting no nonsense player. For many at Worcester he was considered a yellow card waiting to happen. Playing 61 times for Worcester Neil received 7 yellow cards and scored 25 points. This might be a little harsh as Sam Betty has played 48 times in the same position and received 4 yellow cards, with plenty of time to match Best's 7 in 61 record.
The man literaly put his body on the line each and every game he played for us. In November 2011, against Bath he broke his arm but continued to play for 20 minutes!
Prior to the 2012/13 season starting Neil suffered an injury that not only almost cost him his career it could have cost him his life!
The injury described as Prepatellar Bursitis in his left knee became infected. Following 2 weeks in hospital, 3 operations and many visits from concerned family, friends and players he made a great recovery and got back into training and playing no more than a month later, making his first appearance of the season, against Gernika in October 2012.
So the man puts his body on the line in every game he has played for us, is now an experienced level 3 coach but we couldn't find room for him as a player coach?
London Scottish announced today (30/05/2013) the 'exciting' signing of Neil Best from Worcester Warriors.
Exciting? Excited! Best is the most excited and comedic player I have ever met. I will long remember the image of him running aroound the Sixways training pitch with the, newly aquired and very serious bits of technology, GPS trackers, making the the shape of a cock and balls for all the coaches and physios to see on their monitors.
My assumption is that the signing of Jonathan Thomas sealed Neil leaving the club and though he is clearly a great signing I feel we will miss Best's changing room banter, on the pitch battling and his developing skills as a qualified coach.
I really hope Best's move to London Scottish goes well for him, that he gets game time and the chance to show he still has the talent and drive that has made him such a successful player over the years. If, when his contract ends he is looking to get into coaching, I for one would welcome him back to Sixways with open arms.
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