O'Connell to captain Ireland for Six Nations

Paul O’Connell will captain Ireland for the 2012 RBS Six Nations Championship, coach Declan Kidney revealed today.

O’Connell replaces Brian O’Driscoll as team captain as the Leinster talisman continues his rehabilitation from surgery on a trapped nerve in his shoulder, ruling him out of the tournament.

The Munster lock said the captaincy was a "huge honour" for him.

" I have been lucky to have played for my country on 82 occasions and during that time I have always felt that the responsibility of leadership should not just rest on the shoulders of Brian," he said.

"We are lucky in the Ireland squad that we have a couple of outstanding leaders across the pitch and I know that I will be relying on them during the championship."

The Ireland squad began preparations for the championship today at a short two-day training camp near Dublin.

O’Connell, the current Munster Captain, has the experience of having already led Ireland at international level, first against France in 2004 and as recently as August against England in the Guinness Summer Series.

He also has the added experience of being the captain of the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 2009.

“With Brian on the rehab trail at the moment, we knew that we had to plan for the captaincy and felt that it was fitting that we announce it at the Christmas camp in front of the squad," Kidney said.

"There are a number of players with strong leadership credentials in the squad who have always been supportive of the captaincy and will be important during the championship.

"Paul has always been one of those leaders in the squad and I was delighted that he accepted the honour and the responsibilities that it brings.

"I know that he will bring through his experience to the position in the championship.”

Ireland’s first Six Nations game is a rematch of their recent World Cup quarter-final against Wales in Wellington, when O’Connell and company made a quarter-final exit.

After Wales, Ireland face France in Paris, then host Italy and Scotland before finishing the tournament with a Twickenham appointment against England on March 17.