Paul O’Connell’s waiting game

Paul O’Connell may harbour ambitions to live and work in France but for now the Ireland captain believes he has no option but to see out the remaining year on his IRFU contract.

Following a week of speculation about a lucrative offer from reigning European champions Toulon, the 35-year-old Munster second row legend yesterday reduced the rugby chatter surrounding his playing future to the bottom line – he has an agreement to play with his province and country until June 2016.

Retirement after this September and October’s World Cup in England is the Irish captain’s only other option and even that could only be achieved with the IRFU’s blessing, and in that regard O’Connell said he was 90% sure of his intentions but not yet in a position where he would feel comfortable disclosing it to the wider world.