Skipper feels like going on for years

JUST hours after signing a new two-year deal that should see him playing top class rugby to the age 34, Munster, Irish and Lions talisman Paul O’Connell has not ruled out a further extension to his contract.

For now, O’Connell has committed to Munster and Ireland until the end of the 2013/14 season, but he doesn’t want it to end there and remains firm in his view he will see out his career in Ireland. Having been given a new lease of life after injury and illness over the last couple of years, he believes be might extend his career even further.

His last contract? “I don’t know, I think a few years ago I probably would have thought it would have been, but certainly not now. My body feels in great nick, I’m being very well looked after here by the fitness staff, Bryce Cavanagh in particular. It’s great to get a proper pre-season under my belt this year, get a good run of games — high-intensity games — injury free and it’s left me in good shape.”