The news every Irish fan feared came this morning.
Paul O’Connell’s career as an Ireland player is over.
Even a man as consistently capable of performing miracles as Paulie wasn’t able to recover from a hamstring being ripped from the bone to play again at this Rugby World Cup.
Tributes poured in from far and wide, from those who played alongside him to those who watched from sideline. The thrust of all the messages was the same: admiration, awe and respect for one of the greatest athletes this country has ever produced.
But the outpouring of emotion wasn’t just restricted to Irish supporters- rugby fans from Ireland’s biggest rivals also felt obliged to voice their admiration for Paulie.
In the comments section of the Guardian, the Telegraph, the Daily Mail and elsewhere tributes flowed for O’Connell.
We’ve picked out some of the best.
They’d bring a a tear to your eye.
