Paul O’Connell was not looking for any sympathy.
He was carried out on his shield, at the age of 36, having won pretty much everything bar a World Cup. He owed the game nothing and rugby had been good to Paul O’Connell.
So when he went on RTÉ Radio this morning to discuss his retirement he kept things in perspective and reminded everyone that a former Lions captain who has won Grand Slams, Triple Crowns, Heineken Cups and PRO12s across a 14-year career has had a good innings.
While admitting that he had been “looking forward to big adventure in Toulon”, O’Connell said there are others – such as his former Ireland and Munster team-mate Felix Jones – for whom retirement is a far more traumatic event.
“It is unfortunate, but it is what it is. I had a very, very enjoyable career, a very long career,” he told Michael Corcoran.
“Look at someone like Felix Jones, who I’d be very close to, retiring in the last few months as well at the age of 28, with so much ahead of him.
“I consider myself very lucky. It was unfortunate what happened in the French game but overall I consider myself very lucky.”
Jones is now studying for a Masters degree in sports psychology in University of Limerick and staying involved with Munster after a serious neck injury saw him draw the curtain on an injury-interrupted career.
The full-back had become a firm favourite with Munster fans after making the switch south from Leinster in 2009.
