The FAI have not yet identified a successor to Noel King as Ireland U21 manager but former internationals Lee Carsley, Robbie Keane and Damien Duff are among those being linked with either the main job or assistant roles in a new management set-up.

Leinster’s South African star Zane Kirchner says Ruan Pienaar has been left “heartbroken” by the IRFU decision to block Ulster’s plans to re-sign the star.

Dublin will host the 2009 European Cross Country Athletics Championships.