Dick Best
Encyclopedia
Dick Best is a former rugby union
coach
, and current journalist. He coached the England
national team and was a coach on the 1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand
and Director of Rugby at London Irish
.
On 21st April 2009 he caused controversy by remarking, "Well you've got to have one coloured player in there" whilst giving an interview to Sky Sports News. Best clearly thought that the camera was off, leaning into the interviewer and whispering the comment, which was a response to a question by presenter Mike Wedderburn as to why Delon Armitage
may have been selected over Tommy Bowe
for the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
. Sky Sports News later issued an apology.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, and current journalist. He coached the England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
national team and was a coach on the 1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand
1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1993 the British Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand. This tour followed the Lions' 1989 tour to Australia and preceded their 1997 tour to South Africa. It was the last Lions tour in the sport's amateur era....
and Director of Rugby at London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
.
On 21st April 2009 he caused controversy by remarking, "Well you've got to have one coloured player in there" whilst giving an interview to Sky Sports News. Best clearly thought that the camera was off, leaning into the interviewer and whispering the comment, which was a response to a question by presenter Mike Wedderburn as to why Delon Armitage
Delon Armitage
Delon Anthony Armitage is a rugby union footballer who plays at wing or fullback for London Irish and England. He also occasionally plays centre and often does place kicking, mainly from a distance or if the regular kicker is unable to take it.From 1996 to 2002, Armitage lived in...
may have been selected over Tommy Bowe
Tommy Bowe
Thomas John "Tommy" Bowe is an Irish rugby union footballer from County Monaghan, Ireland...
for the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....
. Sky Sports News later issued an apology.
External links
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/02/11/srbest111.xml Daily Telegraph article by Best.
- http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/woodward-to-remain-at-helm-for-six-nations-739469.html Article from 1999 when Best was being touted for England again.