RUGBY:Simon Best will hopefully be released to return home today or tomorrow after further tests following his sudden admission to hospital in Bordeaux on Wednesday evening ruled out any neurological problem.

The 29-year-old Ulster prop was in a comfortable condition last night after being joined in Bordeaux yesterday by his wife Katie, whom he married last June after captaining Ireland on their summer tour to Argentina, while his father, John, arrives today. After what must have been a major scare for his brother Rory and the family, as well as the entire Ireland squad, Best was moved to another hospital yesterday morning after relatively inconclusive tests before a statement was issued by the IRFU around tea-time. "Following further tests carried out on Ireland prop

Simon Best, specialists have been able to rule out any neurological problems as the cause of his symptoms.

"Specialists now believe that the symptoms are related to a cardiac issue but an exact diagnosis of the problem has yet to be determined."

"Simon is comfortable and all his symptoms have been resolved and he has been joined by his wife Katie who arrived in Bordeaux this afternoon. He will remain in hospital for further tests and it is hoped that he will be able to return home in the next 24-48 hours."

This effectively means that Best's symptoms were not as a result of any problem with his brain, or anything untoward such as multiple sclerosis or a trauma, but he may have some cardiac problem such as an irregular heartbeat.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said yesterday: "This is very positive news for Simon and we will all continue to monitor his progress carefully. "The care he has received so far has been excellent and team doctor Gary O'Driscoll has been with him throughout this," added O'Sullivan.

Best had been out walking around downtown Bordeaux in the company of Paddy Wallace on Wednesday evening at around tea-time when developing a loss of sensation down his right side along with a mild headache and a difficulty in speaking. There happened to be a one-day taxi strike on Wednesday in protest at de-regulation but Best and Wallace were driven to the team hotel by the squad's liaison officer where the Ireland team doctor, Gary O'Driscoll, examined Best and accompanied him immediately to Pellegrin Hospital. He remained in hospital overnight and had several investigations, including an MRI scan, an angiogram and a CT.

These tests were repeated yesterday morning and Best was transferred to Haut Levque Hospital for further investigation. Tony Buckley has been called out as a replacement for Best, who had been named on the bench for Sunday's concluding Pool D game against Argentina, which Ireland must win by more than seven points and score at least four tries if they are to have any hope of progressing to the knock-out stages. This also presupposes that France beat Georgia with a bonus point beforehand in Marseilles.

The Irish squad bid adieu to Bordeaux today when taking an early-afternoon TGV to Paris. Bryan Young has been promoted to the replacements' bench in Best's absence, where he will be joined by Rory Best. Both he and Jerry Flannery, who retains his place in the starting line-up, came through fitness tests during the afternoon's training session.

"We have named Rory Best on the bench for this weekend," said O'Sullivan, "and while we did consider his brother Simon's condition when making that decision, Rory is an incredibly mentally tough individual and was adamant he wanted to be considered for selection. We have no doubts that he will be ready if called upon."

Earlier in the day, O'Sullivan had given a press briefing in the team hotel on the outskirts of Bordeaux and had clearly been shaken by the previous night's events. "Yeah, we're all worried about Simon, obviously, he's a hugely popular guy in the squad. He has been around for a long time and he is one of these quiet-spoken guys who everybody loves. So it's a shock to everybody that this can happen."

Best has taken his number of caps with Ireland to 23 with appearances off the bench in all three of Ireland's pool games thus far, having made his debut in 2003 in Tonga, after which he was included in Ireland's squad for the 2003 World Cup. With 110 caps for Ulster he has captained the province for the last two seasons.