Rory Best declines to comment on attendance at Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding court case

Ireland rugby captain Rory Best refused to comment on his attendance at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday for the second day of the trial of his Ulster teammates Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.

Best chose not to explain his decision to attend the trial after he was photographed alongside teammates Iain Henderson and Craig Gilroy on the day the woman Jackson and Olding were alleged to have committed sexual offences against took to the witness stand. Speaking at his Captain's Run press conference at the Stade de France this morning ahead of Ireland's Six Nations opener against France on Saturday, Best said 'no comment' when asked why he had decided to attend the trial. He also declined to comment on if the IRFU knew that he was going to attend the trial with Henderson. On Thursday, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt also refused to comment when asked if he had given Best permission to attend the trial. “I’ve got no comment on any of that,” said the Ireland coach. When asked for his thoughts on Best's presence in court, Schmidt added: ""We are not in a position to comment on any of that. It's a legal matter."