Paul O’Connell retirement: Twitter reacts

Brian O’Driscoll is among those who have paid tribute to the former Ireland captain

After a career spanning 14 mammoth years Paul O’Connell has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

The talismanic lock has been forced to hang up his boots on medical advice after failing to recover from the hamstring injury which forced him off during Ireland’s Rugby World Cup win over France last year. And that proved to be the his last action on a rugby field, with a final swansong at European champions RC Toulon ended before he could make a single appearance.

Rugby’s great and good have reacted to O’Connell’s retiement on social media, with old team mates and adversaries alike paying tribute to arguably Ireland’s greatest ever player.

In a statment released by the IRFU, O’Connell said: “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.

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“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.”