The coaching group have also named four development players who will train with the squad.

The most famous story about George Best — at least off the field — is one probably everybody has heard.

There's no room for Rob Kearney, Seán Cronin, Jordi Murphy, Jack Carty, John Ryan or Kieran Marmion – with newly eligible Jamison Gibson-Park jumping ahead of the Connacht man at scrum-half.

Joe Schmidt has refuted Rory Best’s suggestion that the Ireland head coach didn’t trust his players enough during the World Cup. And he says Best has since texted him to explain he spoke ‘inadvertently’.

With his globetrotting Barbarians adventures concluded, and his first week of retirement finally upon him, Rory Best could easily have put on his slippers and emptied his mind of all rugby thoughts.

Rory Best says he hopes to play in the Barbarians’ next two games after captaining the side on his debut at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Rugby World Cup drew to a close on Saturday, when England were beaten by South Africa in the final.

Rory Best will take to the pitch for one last time as he was announced as part of the Barbarians squad to face Fiji.

Jared Payne has insisted Joe Schmidt’s record as Ireland head coach is beyond reproach and feels sorry his fellow New Zealander and Rory Best are not leaving on the high they deserved.

Johnny Sexton may have only been half-joking when he suggested the knives would be out for himself and half-back partner Conor Murray once Ireland had departed this World Cup.

Ireland have been knocked out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage for the seventh time in nine tournaments.

Twitter full of tributes for Joe Schmidt and Rory Best as they depart the stage.

There are three changes from the starting line-up Joe Schmidt sent out against Samoa last Saturday for Ireland’s final Pool A game in Fukuoka.

With qualification for the knockout phase secured after an Ireland performance more in keeping with what we have come to expect from this squad, the only outstanding issue surrounded the not insignificant detail as to whom Ireland would meet in their quarter-final in Tokyo next weekend.

Ireland booked their place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a comprehensive victory over Samoa.

Three areas where Ireland need to deliver...

Ireland managed to end up on the wrong side of the penalty count in both the win over Scotland (7-6) and loss to Japan (9-6). That is atypical for a team that takes great stock in its accuracy and discipline.

Frustrated, inconsistent and more susceptible to upsets than their top-tier rivals.

Forty-five minutes before kick-off, Joe Schmidt and Gregor Townsend shot the breeze on the side of the pitch while their respective squads warmed up in intense humidity behind them.

Joe Schmidt believes Ireland will have to punch above their weight to knock out SouthAfrica in what is now a likely quarter-final match-up at the World Cup in Japan.

Joe Schmidt believes Ireland will have to punch above their weight to knock out South Africa in what is now a likely quarter-final match-up at the World Cup in Japan.

Dan McFarland will be up early this Sunday morning, like most Irish rugby fans around the country.

Ireland’s flock is all out of offerings to lay at the altar of Joe Schmidt.

Jeremy Guscott has thrown cold water on Ireland's chances of a best-ever World Cup performance.

Rory Best has been struggling and, no, we don’t mean the line out.

Joe Schmidt praised Rory Best’s work ethic and ability to bounce back from is personal Twickenham disappointments as he confirmed the veteran hooker as Ireland’s captain to lead his team into the World Cup in Japan.

Joe Schmidt has urged his players not to go into their shells when Ireland get their chance to atone for their Twickenham nightmare against Wales tomorrow.

We are, Joe Schmidt admits, in uncharted waters.

Brian O’Driscoll could probably relate to some of the thoughts swirling around Rory Best’s head right now.

Best was poor in Twickenham last Saturday when Ireland shipped over 50 points to a rampant England side.

Rory Best leads Ireland once more unto the Twickenham breach today confident his team has the smarts if not the bulk to prove the home Six Nations defeat to England was an aberration rather than a bad omen for the upcoming World Cup.

Rory Best is on the final stretch of a journey that began almost 14 years ago, but the events of the next few months will go a long way towards shaping how the Ireland captain will look back on his distinguished international career.

A former club captain back in the 1950s, and with a son (John) involved in a variety of roles from captain to president to chairman, Don’s was a voice entitled to be heard.

Rory Best’s ankle injury has cleared up in time to allow him to have the send-off he hoped for, and the Ireland captain suspects he’ll be an emotional wreck when he says goodbye at the Kingspan Stadium tonight

The northern province's take on Connacht tomorrow with Rory Best and Darren Cave looking to exit on a high with a spot in the PRO14 semi-finals up for grabs.

Even with a 747 at his disposal, Marco Polo would probably have thought twice about rushing to map out Rory Best’s last rugby journey, from Armagh to Yokohama.

Ulster and Ireland captain Rory Best has confirmed that he will retire from professional rugby when his contract expires after the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Brendan O’Brien Rory Best will meet Ulster bosses in the next week in a bid to decide whether he will play for his native province after next season’s World Cup.

Ulster believe Jacob Stockdale has the mental strength to get over Saturday’s fumble and say he’s eager to throw himself straight back into PRO14 action this weekend to shake off his Champions Cup blues.

Jim Stokes has been synonymous with Ulster rugby for over three decades.

They have led the Irish team to greatness and back again and together will carry a nation’s World Cup hopes to Japan, but right now Rory Best is seeing one advantage in going up against Johnny Sexton.

Even in their darkest days - and there has been far too many lately for a rugby nation like France — the one constant has been the power and efficiency of their set piece, writes Donal Lenihan.

The time has come for Ireland rugby to believe the hype and go to Japan this year confident they can and will win the World Cup.

Looking back at Ireland's defeat, what are the lessons to be learned?