Paul O'Connell

Ireland stars Paul O'Connell and Rory Best have been ruled out of their country's forthcoming tour to New Zealand and Australia through injury. British and Irish Lions captain O'Connell was named in Declan Kidney's 33-man party despite receiving intravenous antibiotics for a groin problem. But the 30-year-old Munster lock, who suffered the injury during Ireland's final Six Nations game against Scotland, has failed to recover in time and is replaced by Ulster's Ed O'Donoghue. Ulster hooker...Read Full Story

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said he was "surprised" by the choice of Ireland's Paul O'Connell as captain of the British and Irish Lions squad that will face the world champion Springboks. O'Connell may be the captain of European champions Munster but for Ireland he plays under Brian O'Driscoll, also included in the 37-man squad announced by coach Ian McGeechan on Tuesday for the 10-match, three-Test tour of South Africa, which starts on May 30. Earlier this season O'Driscoll led...Read Full Story

Irish international lock Paul O'Connell lost his appeal against a four-week ban for striking an opponent during a European Cup clash on Thursday. The Munster forward, who captained the British and Irish Lions in South Africa last year, was sent off for lashing out at Ospreys' number eight Jonathan Thomas on December 12. A three-man appeals panel found that O'Connell, who was red-carded in his comeback match following a groin injury, had not demonstrated the original decision had been in error...Read Full Story

Paul O'Connell, captain of the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour All the discussion and speculation on the squad for the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour will be over tomorrow. At lunch on Tuesday 21st April the squad to tour South Africa with the 2009 British & Irish Lions will be announced. The two front runners for the captaincy are the Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll and Munster captain Paul O’Connell. The latest news is that Paul has been given the nod and will named as the captain...Read Full Story

08 June, 2009 01:43:00 Times Online Font size: Paul O'Connell will lead a strong British & Irish Lions against the Sharks on Wednesday as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the tour of South Africa. Ian McGeechan, the Lions head coach, has tinkered with his side again as the Lions look to bounce back from a disappointing performance in their 26-24 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. He has returned to proven...Read Full Story