Schmidt appointment tempts O’Driscoll to give it one more year

Brian O’Driscoll last night dropped a major hint that Joe Schmidt’s appointment as Ireland coach could persuade him to continue his playing career, claiming the IRFU could not have “picked anyone who could encourage me more to hang on for another year”.

There has been speculation the Ireland centre would retire after the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia but the 34-year-old has indicated he will make his mind up on his future in July after discussing the issue with his wife Amy Huberman.

“There is the added carrot now that Joe is head coach. I have made no secret of my admiration for him,” said O’Driscoll. “He has been fantastic for Leinster and Leinster’s loss is Ireland’s gain.

“I do not think they could have picked anyone who could encourage me more to hang on for another year.

“We talk the whole time, I have a good relationship with Joe.”

O’Driscoll told the BBC that he has already discussed his future with Schmidt — albeit from a Leinster rather than an Ireland standpoint.

“He has spoken to me about my future from a Leinster perspective. He appreciates I am my own man and will make my own decision,” O’Driscoll said. “That does not mean he cannot try to sway my opinion one way or another. But that is just one aspect of making a decision as big as whether you play on for another year.

“I need to sit down and talk to my wife and go through different things and see if the body is up to it.

“I have been lucky to have had a 14- or 15-year career, and I have to understand my wife has a career as well and maybe be flexible to her needs too.”

Meanwhile, O’Driscoll’s Leinster and Ireland team-mate Jamie Heaslip is one of five nominees for the European Rugby Cup Player of the Season award.

Heineken Cup finalists Clermont have three nominations in Julian Bonnaire, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Wesley Fofana. Toulon’s Jonny Wilkinson completes the shortlist.

The winner will announced after the Heineken Cup final on May 18.