It is with deep regret that I have decided to retire from professional rugby following medical advice. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all at Rugby Club Toulonnais for their understanding and support over the past few months.
Since sustaining the injury at the World Cup I have been fully focused on returning to fitness and starting an exciting new chapter for both myself and my family in Toulon. Unfortunately this will no longer be possible.
I have been blessed to be a professional rugby player for over 14 years and to be part of Munster and Ireland teams that have experienced success.
I have played with some of the best players to ever line out in the red of Munster and the green of Ireland and have had the privilege of captaining my country.
I would like to thank those at Young Munster RFC, Munster Rugby, the IRFU and Lions Rugby who have supported me over the course of my playing career.
Special thanks must go to my wife Emily for her unwavering support through the good and the bad and to my parents Michael and Shelagh.
Lastly I would like to thank everyone who has supported the teams I have been a part of. The support you have shown me is humbling and an immense source of pride for both myself and my family.
Paul O’Connell announcing his retirement this morning.
Mmf.
Paul O’Connell To Retire – A Farewell Statement (IRFU)
Previously: O Captain! My Captain!
What an athlete, brought at least a few smiles over the years!
Aww certainly a pity but I respect the mans decision, he has no apologies to make to anyone. With a young family, no point messing about with his health. Hopefully though this won’t be the last we’ll see of him in the field of Rugby be he stay pitch side or into the punditry arena. Well done Paulie.
:'(
Thats a pretty massive hit to his pension too.
Damn shame.
Very hard not to admire the man. Just seemed like a class act all the way through, a ferocious athlete on the field and an incredibly likable chap off it.
I saw him surfing in Lahinch once. It was like looking at a tree on a surfboard.
His last three years were probably his best and he isn’t going out young.
That is very very rare in elite sports.
Indeed so. The year or two in France was supposed to be the nice little earner to see him right. He’s a fine man, but I can’t see him making it big on the punditry circuit.
That wasn’t meant to go there.
Yes, his later years did seem like his best alright. He just got better and better as he got older…fitter and stonger as he got older…strange that.
I would like to offer him somewhere to live and he can crash in my room if he likes…I want to open a home for retired rugby players…
Sad news, shame he didn’t get the payday his talents deserved
Best of luck to the man….but can we all please avoid the hysteria driven near state of mourning driven hysteria that followed his injury in the World Cup.
Man retires from professional sport….
Legend. I played a couple of AIL games against him a long time ago. You could see he was a serious player back then. I did manage to do him on the outside but that’s a 14 versus a 5.
“Needless to say, I had the last laugh…”
“Shame he didn’t get the payday his talents deserved ?”
Sorry ? But WTF sort of statement is that. He was playing professional sport, you seem to have forgotten this. Also its interesting the reaction to his transfer request out of Munster last year.
What reaction? As far as I could tell, most people were sad to see him go, grateful for the fantastic rugby he played but supportive of his decision to provide for himself later in life.
Legend
You mean “Ligind”
Paul is indeed referred to by Limerick people as a fupping Ligind sham.
The man’s a god.
Always imagined God would have more hair and be less ‘breaky’
And hotter
Ah he’s not too bad in fairness..nothing wrong with some ginger nuts now and then. The wimmins do be flocking around him in Nancys anyways.
Can any of ye guess what Brian O’Driscoll is laughing at here ?
http://inpho.ie/media/Pjk9w4QwbGZFsNAYgciDcQ..a?wosid=Oz82teSmGoMejAAsPSgPxg&woinst=4&ts=_SO144jAqGgI68JD9DVT1oGPMvlgzRfoBTJBjMyBUxQ.a
ooops, linky not working
Here ye go.
http://www.benchwarmers.ie/tag/lol-paul-oconnell-taking-on-the-royal-family/
“at one stage of the tour Prince William turned up to meet him (Woodward) at training one day. William is a big rugby fan and he came into our dressing room after one of the games and went round shaking our hands. I was sitting next to O’Connell. William told him he’d heard of Munster rugby and the legendary Thomond Park.
So Paulie said to him he should come over for a game some time. William said he’d love to but it wouldn’t be easy; a visit like that to Ireland would take a bit or organising. And quick as a flash O’Connell fires back, ‘Some of your ancestors hadn’t much problem coming over to Ireland.’ He kinda half said it under his breath so I wasn’t sure if Prince William had heard it or not. But I had and I nearly fell off my seat laughing.”
It’s lucky he has a career in comedy to fall back on
I’d say he’ll have no shortage of things to fall back on.. he’s actually a very sound guy. Was talking to him once or twice out n abouts.
Sure won’t he be able to go protesting now. Isn’t that what the unemployed do, or do you also need to be a lower class, in which case he won’t qualify?
In fairness though, what balls he had.
What balls.