Paul O'Connell reflects on 'long and enjoyable career'
Tuesday 9 February 2016 18:45, UK
Paul O'Connell considers himself very lucky to have enjoyed such a successful career despite injury denying him a French swansong.
The former Munster, Ireland and Lions captain was forced to admit defeat in his battle to overcome the torn hamstring suffered against France at the Rugby World Cup, and accepted medical advice to call time on a trophy-laden 14-year career.
Speaking to RTÉ, the 34-year-old said: "It was only in the weeks after the France game that I found out how bad an injury it was and how difficult it is to get back from it.
"Unfortunately, progress has been very slow for me and I won't get back to where I was, so I've decided to retire and won't be taking on the adventure in Toulon, which is a big disappointment.
"I've had a really long, enjoyable career. I look at someone like Felix Jones, who I'd be very close to, having to retire at 28 with so much ahead of him. I consider myself very lucky. It's unfortunate what happened in the French game but I've been very lucky on the whole."
Given the decision was taken out of his hands, O'Connell says it has been easier to accept his playing days are behind him.
"It really isn't a decision that is difficult," said the three-time Six Nations winner. "You're either going to get back to being able to be strong, fast and powerful again or you're not. That makes the decision for you. You get on with it then; that's what I do anyway.
"I was rehabbing away all the time and was trying to ignore the bigger picture, whether it was going to come right or not. I was doing about four and a half hours a day, trying to work hard and not keep asking the question.
"You don't want to look at the bigger picture but eventually you have to. It's just too bad an injury in a very difficult place, particularly for rugby players. People might say I wasn't very fast or powerful anyway but every bit of speed and power you have comes from that area."
O'Connell broke the news to Toulon last week, travelling to the south of France to meet Diego Dominguez and Mourad Boudjellal.
"I came across some really nice people there," he said. "I had lunch with Diego Dominguez last week in his house in Toulon and I told him where I was. He was very good, I had a great chat with him.
"Tom Whitford, the team manager, would be a guy I have had a lot of contact with, and Terry Stone, the physiotherapist. Mourad Boudjellal as well.
"They were very good when I told them. Mourad said to me, 'you'll never be able to say you won at Mayol' which I thought was interesting! But they were very understanding.
"I hate saying it and having to tell people because rugby has been a massive part of my life. It has been a strange week."
