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Ireland great O'Callaghan to retire
By Tom Webber
Former Ireland lock Donncha O'Callaghan has announced his intention to retire at the end of the season.
O'Callaghan, 38, made 94 Test appearances for Ireland, winning the 2009 Six Nations and playing a part in four Triple Crown successes.
The second-rower won the Heineken Cup twice with Munster before moving to Worcester Warriors in 2015, and it with the Premiership club he will finish his career.
"I am done. It's been great. I have had a great time. I love the game and I want to finish loving it," said O'Callaghan, who also earned British and Irish Lions honours.
"Honestly, body-wise I feel great. The game is changing though and everyone is talking about it this season. Over the last three years, the physicality has gone through the roof.
"I'd love to be able to walk away from it and say I had a great time within it and be thankful to the game itself.
"I have four small kids, I want to be running around with them having fun. I don't want to be stuck in goal in a five-a-side. You want to finish the game fit, healthy, and well. You want to be active.
"It's definite right now. My family need me around more. As much as I love rugby I love them more and I need to be there. That's corny, isn't it? But that's the way it is."
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I’m sick to death of waiting 3 years for league players to become half decent. It cripples Australian rugby in the meantime. The Reds actually looked half competent without Vunivalu not starting last week. He’s just a liability of errors. Paisami is looking better than he has in previous years but I’d have Kerevi back in a flash. A kiwi wont tho …...
Go to commentsExcellent analysis Nick as we have come to expect. I was not really aware that NFL strategies have been adopted by rugby teams, especially in defence. One point I would make is that the Northhampton attacking player on the end of the chain in the video examples has not maintained the correct depth to be effective. In the footage shown the outside player is too flat to make the best of the opportunity his inside players have provided. In each case they have to reduce speed and turn their body backwards to secure the ball, losing all momentum and giving the impressive scrambling defence the chance to shut down the threat.
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