O'Connell not worried about future of Heineken Cup

Paul O'Connell says there is no point on him worrying about the future of the Heineken Cup.

The Munsterman said all he can do is play and let those behind the scenes sort out what is happening with the European Rugby competition.

O’Connell was speaking after Ireland squad training in Carton House, Maynooth, where Joe Schmidt took his first squad session.

The future of the European Cup is under threat with English and French teams ready to pull out over what they call an unfair structure. A moderator has been appointed by the ERC and the IRB and there will be a meeting with all the sides involved next month.

O’Connell said: "It’s very hard to speculate what’s going to happen, whether the competition is going to go or a new one arrives in its place.

"Hopefully the administrators make the right decision for rugby in Europe in general and that the provinces are in a good place at the end of the negotiations, but for us it’s hard to know what’s going on so it’s not something I let worry me and that I stay focused on just getting back playing.

O’Connell is trying to get back to full fitness after a few knocks and niggles he picked up while on tour with the British and Irish Lions in the summer.

The hand injury he picked up down under appears to be sorted and he has had an interrupted pre-season with other issues, but is training flat out at the moment in Munster.

He said: "I’ve been back training flat out for the last few weeks so hopefully I’m back playing properly soon. Last season I was delighted to get back and then earn a place in the Lions squad and really enjoyed that, It was disappointing for me how it finished but that’s life and it’s the same now again.

"It wasn’t the worst injury in the world to pick up, there is still a lot you can do and areas where you can still train so I’m just looking forward to getting a full season under my belt and to reach the same fitness I had when I went with the Lions and trying to push on a little bit. It's exciting times with Munster and Ireland so I’m just looking forward to being part of that."

With the November internationals only around the corner the squad of 42 that assembled on Sunday for training will now be on trial under the watchful eye of Joe Schmidt, Les Kiss and new assistant coach, John Plumtree.

So will this new era for the international side spur players on to performing to their best in the Pro 12 and Heineken Cup?

O’Connell said: "I think one of the strengths Leinster in particular have had is their competition for places, nobody ever feels secure for a place which is the feedback I’ve had from the guys and it seems to be something Joe is into.

"We have had a big number here and two full teams playing against each other and everyone feels if they perform they will play in the Guinness Series, so that will always be good for the Irish team and the provinces as we build towards the series."

For the first time since 1999, Ireland will be without the kicking of Ronan O’Gara, a strange thing for Irish rugby fans to realise as we are all accustomed to sometimes depending on his kicks to keep a scoreboard ticking over.

In all 128 times he appeared in an Irish jersey, he clocked up a remarkable 1,083 points not to forget 2,625 points in 240 appearances for Munster.

On the loss of O’Gara to the rugby scene in this country, O’Connell said: "You would always miss ROG around the place for a number of different reasons.

"He’s a great character and a great player and the guys you play with for a long time are the guys you most trust and you just have to get on with it and get over it.

"One of the great things about the Six Nations this year is the amount of new players that were blooded and you can see in camp that they are much more confident, so the Six Nations will contribute to Joe’s reign in a big way."