‘We wanted Paul to stay involved’

PHILIP BROWNE has revealed that the IRFU’s desire for Paul O’Connell to work in Irish rugby in the future was why they amicably ripped up the last year of his central contract and allowed him leave Munster for Toulon.

The Ireland skipper (right) had been contracted with the IRFU until summer 2016. However, instead of demanding O’Connell see this deal through to expiry, the union granted the second row early release which will see him link up with the three-time European champions after the World Cup curtain falls next month on his stellar Test career.

‘We are very keen that Paul will stay involved in Irish rugby in some shape or form into the future and it seemed like a sensible option for him,’ explained Browne of the union’s unprecedented decision to al l ow O’Connell head abroad.

‘From our point of view it was a sensible solution in keeping Paul on board in terms of Irish rugby and gaining the experience from another rugby environment and hopefully bringing that back to Munster and to Ireland.

‘He has been a huge servant to Munster rugby, a huge servant to Irish rugby and he felt he didn’t have enough gas in the tank to keep going with Munster and the pressures of being the talisman of Munster for another year. He wanted to get a new rugby experience before he f i nally retired and an opportunity arose.’

Browne, though, couldn’t say whether the IRFU’s generous decision to release O’Connell a year early was a one- off that won’t be repeated.

‘Who knows? The reality is we deal wi t h situations as they arise.’