Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan has been leading the tributes to Simon Best following his retirement from the professional game.

IT seems only like the other day that the Irish World Cup squad in their hotel in Bordeaux heard that a potentially serious illness had befallen Simon Best, one of the most popular members of the entire party.

Ulster and Ireland prop Simon Best has announced his retirement from professional rugby following his most recent medical assessment.

Of all six coaches in the RBS 6 Nations, Eddie O’Sullivan enters the tournament under the greatest pressure.

KEITH WOOD claims Eddie O’Sullivan’s coaching reputation hinges on the RBS 6 Nations with another fiasco spelling the end of his Ireland reign.

Keith Wood claims Eddie O’Sullivan’s coaching reputation hinges on the RBS 6 Nations with another fiasco spelling the end of his Ireland reign.

Eddie O’Sullivan has chosen to inject some youth into Ireland’s creaking squad with Cian Healy and Jonathan Sexton among the fresh faces.

The Ireland squad for the 2008 RBS Six Nations championship sees a mixture of youth and experience for this season’s tournament in the extended 33-man squad named by Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan.

Steve Williams will look to make a few changes for Ulster's tussle with The Ospreys at Ravenhill on Friday night in the return leg of the Heineken Cup.

Ulster Coach Mark McCall has been able to call on Scotland's Rob Dewey and all his Ireland World Cup members, except for Simon Best, for Friday's Magenr's League tie against Leinster at Ravenhill (7.30pm).

Munster coach Declan Kidney has included Ireland World Cup squad members Frank Sheahan and Alan Quinlan in his 25-man party for the Magners League game against league leaders Cardiff Blues at Musgrave Park on Friday.

LESS than 24 hours after returning from the Rugby World Cup, Alan Quinlan has been drafted into Munster’s 25-man squad for Friday’s Magners League tie with Cardiff Blues at Musgrave Park.

Ireland went into the Rugby World Cup with high hopes of at least qualifying for the semi-finals, following a strong showing in the Five Nations Championship earlier in the year, but it all ground to a disappointing end yesterday in Paris.

Simon Best has been diagnosed as having an irregular heartbeat, according to Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan.

SINCE the Rugby World Cup began a month or so ago, Ireland have been plagued with one piece of misfortune or ill luck after another almost on a daily basis.

NIALL O’DONOVAN yesterday spoke of his sadness in leaving Simon Best behind in a Bordeaux hospital as the Ireland squad prepared for the three hour train journey to Paris.

Ireland assistant coach Niall O'Donovan admitted it was wrench for the squad to leave Simon Best as they transferred from Bordeaux to Paris this afternoon.

Simon Best is expected to return to Ireland in the next two days after the health scare that has ended his World Cup campaign.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has urged his players to put a harrowing 24 hours behind them and refocus their attention on Argentina.

FEARS for Ireland and Ulster rugby prop Simon Best eased last night after it was confirmed he should be able to return home within the next two days.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan decision to call up Tony Buckley for the ill Simon Best has led to the last minute promotion of Federico Pucciariello onto Munster's tight-head side of the scrum for tomorrow's clash with Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Fears over the health of Simon Best eased tonight after it was confirmed the Ireland prop should be able to return home within the next two days.

Ireland prop Simon Best is expected to return home within the next 24 to 48 hours following an encouraging update on his condition.

Ireland's Simon Best is facing further medical tests after being hospitalised last night while socialising with his team-mates.

Ireland prop Simon Best has been admitted to hospital in Bordeaux after suffering a loss of feeling down his right side.

Ireland prop Simon Best has been admitted to hospital in Bordeaux for tests following complaints of feeling unwell and a loss of feeling down his right side.

Changes are expected today when under-fire Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan unveils the team that must revive the nation's fading World Cup aspirations.

Ronan O’Gara missed Ireland’s open training session in Bordeaux this afternoon with a calf injury.

Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has made three changes to the starting Ireland team that will play France in Group D of the Rugby World Cup in Paris on Saturday.

Shane Horgan returns to the Ireland starting XV having fully recovered from a knee ligament strain which occurred while warming up for the pre Rugby World Cup game against Scotland in August.

Brian O'Driscoll has been named to start in the centre by Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan in the Ireland team to play Namibia in the opening Rugby World Cup Group D game this Sunday in Bordeaux.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has made one personnel and one positional change for his side’s last World Cup warm-up game against Italy at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has made two changes to the starting Ireland team to play Italy this Friday in Belfast in what will be the last warm up game for Ireland before the Rugby World Cup.

EDDIE O’Sullivan’s desire to get as many front-liners into action this week has resulted in the Ireland coach picking a host of big names for the second of three Rugby World Cup warm-ups against French Top 14 side Bayonne at the Stade Jean Dauger tonight (kick off 8pm Irish time).

Eddie O’Sullivan has rung the changes in his selection for the practice game tomorrow against Bayonne in the South of France.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan is due to name his starting 15 today for tomorrow's friendly clash with French club Bayonne.

DAVID WALLACE spent another training session on the touchlines yesterday as medical staff continue monitoring an ankle problem, which coach Eddie O’Sullivan has described in the past as “chronic”.

The Ireland Rugby World Cup squad continued their warm-weather camp today in Capbreton in South West France.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN faces one of the hardest days in his six year reign as Ireland head coach tomorrow when he informs seven players that they’re not going to the World Cup.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has confirmed that Marcus Horan is to travel with the squad to Edinburgh for tomorrow’s clash with Scotland.

IRELAND look certain to play as selected in tomorrow’s World Cup warm-up clash with Scotland at Murrayfield, despite a couple of slight injuries sustained in training yesterday.

WITH Ireland’s finest safely tucked away in readiness for the World Cup, the auxiliary forces finally called a halt to an exhausting season at the Estadio De Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Ireland captain Simon Best believes his team will learn from last Saturday's 22-20 loss to Argentina and be more disciplined when the teams meet again in Buenos Aires.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN has remained true to his Argentine pre-tour philosophy that he’d endeavour to give as many members of his 30-man squad game-time by making 11 changes and one positional to the side that started last weekend.