Hard to see Rory Best attend the Paddy Jackson trial. Don't think it's the place for the current Irish captain – offer your support in a personal private capacity.

Role of captain is more than a title, it should be protected & respected as such regardless of personal views.

— icaniwont (@icaniwont) January 31, 2018

Rory Best choosing the day of this woman’s testimony to show up to the Paddy Jackson/Stuart Olding trial seems a lot more like intimidation than support

— Sarah (@Saloulen) January 31, 2018

heartbreaking stuff, really hard to read. I’m really disappointed in @RoryBest2 along with other players supporting these “boys” in something so serious. I realise innocent till proven guilty but if the outcome comes out as truth as suggested. Supporting rapists. No coming back

— Cathy Kavanagh (@cathy_kavanagh) January 31, 2018

Sick to my stomach that @IrishRugby @RoryBest2 are both professionally & publicly supporting Paddy Jackson & Stuart Olding in this case. Something as serious as a rape allegation with enough evidence to bring to court is not something to disregard. Serious issue if found guilty.

— Alexandra Zarrah (@Ali_ZONeill) January 31, 2018

If that photo of Rory Best was from today, then I think that’s a really bad judgement call. I understand wanting to support a friend, but he’s also the @IrishRugby captain. Three days out from start of the #SixNations to be appearing in that court, not good.

— Alastair McDermott (@AMcDermott) January 31, 2018

Sickening that @RoryBest2 went to support Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding today. Nothing has angered and disappointed me this much in a long time.

— Cathy Beirne (@CathyBeirne) January 31, 2018

Could we get an official comment on the public support shown by @RoryBest2 and @HendersonIain for Paddy Jackson and his vile actions @IrishRugby? It’s sickening to see the current Irish captain supporting this kind of an attitude towards woman.

— Ellen Boyle (@BoyleEllen) January 31, 2018

As an Irish and Leinster supporter I am disgusted at Rory Best's support for Paddy Jackson et al. As a mother of daughters and sons, sister of sisters, teacher of girls and boys and human being, I am appallled.

— Barbara Mulhall (@MulhallBarbara) January 31, 2018

Regardless of any friendship w Paddy Jackson, it is beyond inappropriate for Rory Best to go to court to support him on the first day of the victim testifying. Not the judgement of a man that deserves to be the Irish rugby captain @IrishRugby

— (((Colin))) (@CoHesl) January 31, 2018

I’ve always admired Rory Best and thought him a decent guy, but this is a mistake. Obviously he’s going to want to support his team mates, but him publicly being there looks like an intimidation tactic. As Irish captain it’s not how he should present himself. https://t.co/MoG8QklCXL

— dee bee (@MadBeare) January 31, 2018

Alleged Ulster Rugby rapists supported in court today by Rory Best and others.
If there are guilty verdicts will this not reflect very badly on Ulster Rugby?

— SherdyMe (@SherdyMe) January 31, 2018

@IrishRugby there must be some serious concussion in Irish rugby if Rory best thought it was a good idea to support this. #fuckthesixnations

— Conor Mac Allister (@conorthomas89) January 31, 2018

Kate fighting the good fight. However you look at it-as an alleged victim’s advocate or fan- @RoryBest2’s decision is baffling & upsetting https://t.co/Aq5xVX9ql2

— Sinead O'Carroll (@SineadOCarroll) January 31, 2018

Really cannot stress how disappointing it is to see Rory Best turn up to support Paddy Jackson in court

— Eoin Keane (@EoinKeane101) January 31, 2018

Regardless of the outcome of the trial, there is no way @IrishRugby CAPTAIN @RoryBest2 should be at the court PUBLICLY supporting the defendants. Absolutely disgusted. @UlsterRugby @IrishRugby have handled this all very poorly. He should be stripped of the captaincy. @BBCSPORTNI

— Kirsty Keegan (@Kirsty_Keegan) January 31, 2018