IRELAND CAPTAIN PAUL O’Connell promised to make a decision on his future playing plans after winning two honours at last night’s IRUPA awards.
The veteran second row has been a high profile target of Toulon as owner Mourad Boudjellal aims to replace the wealth of experience that will be lost with the exit of Bakkies Botha and Ali Williams.
The alternative options for O’Connell revolve around whether he will choose to retire immediately after the World Cup or to continue on to the end of the 2015/16 season with Munster.
“This summer is probably going to be decision time when I need to decide what I’m going to do,” O’Connell told Newstalk at last night’s awards bash.
“And hopefully [that will] put speculation to an end and I can concentrate on the World Cup.”
O’Connell was named Player of the Year by both players and supporters at last night’s IRUPA event, and he brought the house down with his recollection of the moment the Six Nations became Ireland’s for the second year in succession.
“First time I won a Championship while drinking a pint of Tennent’s.”
Robbie Henshaw continued to dominate the young player of the year gong as he was given his third in successive years.
Meanwhile, Leinster winger Darragh Fanning was voted as the season’s unsung hero.
