IRFU and Joe Schmidt will press captain Paul O’Connell to stay on

Joe Schmidt and the IRFU will do what they can to “influence” Paul O’Connell’s next career move, as speculation linking the Ireland captain to a switch to France’s Top 14 refuses to die down despite confirmation that Toulon are not chasing the lock.

Pau and Grenoble, both clubs with strong Irish links in their coaching departments, have been mooted as other possible bidders for the services of the 35-year old, whose IRFU contract stretches through to the summer of 2016.

O’Connell, who has admitted to being unsure as to whether he will play on beyond the forthcoming Rugby World Cup later this year, was superb for Ireland as they recaptured the Six Nations title last month.

IRFU performance Director David Nucifora batted away questions regarding the Munster man at a media briefing in the Aviva Stadium, pointing to the length of the current deal still to run.

“I guess one of the things is that Paul O’Connell will decide that,” said Schmidt of his captain’s future. “I don’t know if you have spent a lot of time with the man, but he makes his own decisions.

“I have an incredible respect for the man. He has done a phenomenal job in leading Ireland and that is something which will continue through the World Cup and I guess he will make some decisions in the lead-up to that.

“You know those decisions. Of course, we will try to influence him.”

There was some conflicting information on the timeline regarding contract talks between the IRFU and Schmidt himself after the assertion last week by IRFU CEO Philip Browne that those discussions were already underway.

“We’re about to start talking about that over the coming weeks,” Nucifora said. “We’ve obviously been conscious of how busy (Schmidt) has been during the Six Nations and then his trip away back to Australia with family issues.

“We’re now back together and those things will commence over the next short period of time. When we’ve got something to say on that, you guys will be the first to hear for sure.”

Schmidt’s current contract also runs through to the summer of 2016, but the union has been understandably keen to tie the New Zealander down for a longer term given his success in the first two years of his deal.

Schmidt’s immediate future will see him at the Sportsground tomorrow afternoon for Connacht’s meeting with PRO12 leaders Glasgow. Les Kiss and Greg Feek will take in the Ulster-Leinster derby in Belfast tonight.

With no summer tour on account of the World Cup, Ireland have organised a game for Thomond Park on May 28 against a Barbarians side overseen by former Australian coach Robbie Deans, but it remains to be seen who plays.

Should, for example, Ulster and Munster both make the PRO12 final and Connacht be involved in the play-off for the last Champions Cup place, Schmidt would effectively be left with Leinster players and whatever exiles can be mustered.

“One of the really pragmatic things was to get everyone to finish (the season) at the same time,” Schmidt explained, “and for everyone to get the same four weeks off so that people will have had some rugby right up to that point.”

The squad will gather just two days before the game while Ireland are set to play the first of four World Cup warm-ups, against Wales in Cardiff on Aug 8.