O'Connell signs new two-year deal with IRFU

MUNSTER and Ireland lock Paul O'Connell has inked a new two year deal with the IRFU, keeping him in this country until 2006. This comes hot on the heels of Ronan O'Gara's new three-year IRFU contract.

Already one of rugby's hottest properties at the relatively tender age of 24, O'Connell might well have been lured to England or France but preferred to stay put and continue his development in an environment where undue demands will not be made on his stamina and staying power.

"This is my first full Six Nations and it's been an unbelievable experience: from captaining the side over in France and beating England at Twickenham and now facing into a Triple Crown match at the week-end," he said. "It's a pity there are only five games in it. I have played only 17 or 18 games since last summer, including the World Cup. It's spread out over a lengthy period and I feel quite fresh. Sometimes you read about guys being overplayed and mentally tired and you can start believing it. But I've played a very reasonable amount so while sometimes you can convince yourself that you are tired, there's no actually reason why you should be.