Paul O'Connell has been forced to retire without playing a game for new club Toulon, unable to beat the hamstring injury that ended his World Cup prematurely.
The 36-year-old retired from Test rugby after Ireland's World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina, but had missed the last-eight clash after tearing his hamstring in the pool-stage victory over France.
O'Connell had always planned to trade home province Munster for Toulon and retire from international rugby after the World Cup, but that autumn injury has now denied him a club swansong with the French giants.
Source: PA
