By David Hunter
Rory Best is to Captain Ulster Rugby for a third stint this year.
The 35 year old has more than 198 caps for the provence and has also lead the Ireland team in six nations success.
Best's new season in charge kicks off on Friday night when Ulster welcome a new team in the Pro14 to the Kingspan Stadium.
South African side The Cheetahs will have their first taste of the tournament in Belfast.
Tuesday's announcement means the Ireland skipper returns to a position that he first held from 2007 to 2011, and again in 2015.
A two-time British & Irish Lions tourist, Best led midweek sides on both the 2013 tour to Australia and again in New Zealand earlier this summer.
He said "It's a huge honour to captain my home Province again. To play for Ulster fills me with immense pride and that feeling is amplified when I lead the team out.
"I'll be in the privileged position of having an experienced group of players supporting me, all of whom have represented Ulster for a number of years and are superb leaders in their own right.
"The standard of rugby in the Guinness PRO14 and the Champions Cup is improving each year and the players are looking forward to the challenges ahead in both competitions.
"We're committed to working hard each week to improve every aspect of our game and hopefully this will increase our chances of success.”