Rory Best has vowed to lead Ireland in the same vein as renowned captains Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll.

If this doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit nothing will!

Former team-mates Jerry Flannery and Sean O’Brien led the ahem tributes - with O’Brien suggesting Paulie would put the qualification to good use.

Although, teammates being teammates, they also got a few sneaky digs in.

The pranksters at bookmaker Paddy Power have struck again in Cardiff this morning ahead of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final with Argentina.

Earlier today, O’Connell posted a picture of paper underpants on Instagram and captioned it: “The underwear has been the highlight of the operation so far".

Irish Rugby have confirmed the news no one wanted to hear. Paul O’Connell’s Rugby World Cup and Ireland career is over.

Ireland are bracing themselves to face Argentina in the World Cup quarter-final without pivotal pack leaders Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony and Sean O’Brien.

Paul O’Connell is likely to have his worst fears confirmed today that both his World Cup and Test career are at end.

“He’s an incredible leader, all the values that you admire in a captain and want in a captain he’s has them - I’m so disappointed for him."

“He’s a terrific athlete, you just can’t coach the things that he has in terms of his power, his speed.”

Ireland’s final Rugby World Cup warm-up game on home soil takes place this afternoon against Wales.

Doug Howlett remains hopeful that Munster will be able to source a replacement for Paul O’Connell from abroad.

The IRFU have confirmed that Paul O’Connell will retire from international rugby and leave Munster at the end of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

There’s a helluva lot of sporting action on the tellybox this weekend, so we’re doing the hard work for you and highlighting the events you really shouldn't miss.

Tomorrow’s PRO12 semi-final is set to be the iconic player's last game in Thomond Park.

Paul O’Connell is the 2015 IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year.

Toulon’s multi-millionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal has breathed life back into the rumours of a possible move to France for Ireland captain Paul O’Connell.

He’s putting the fear of God into the photographer.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley is banking on Paul O’Connell seeing out his contract until the end of next season.

Paul O’Connell insists Ireland’s back-to-back RBS 6 Nations titles rest entirely on never once questioning taskmaster boss Joe Schmidt’s intense methods.

Paul O’Connell has pledged Ireland will “keep the faith” with boss Joe Schmidt’s game plan despite scoring just four tries in the RBS 6 Nations.

Evergreen Paul O’Connell can still scale new heights ahead of notching his 100th Ireland cap in Saturday’s pivotal RBS 6 Nations showdown in Wales, according to Sean Cronin.

Saturday’s siege will come from all angles but amidst all the chaos and carnage that Cardiff will deliver Rory Best knows that Paul O’Connell will lead Ireland’s ground offensive just as he has 99 times before.

A lot of players claim to be fans of Paul O’Connell. But his opponent on Sunday, England lock George Kruis, really means it.