Donncha O’Callaghan to retire at the end of the season

(Photo: Getty Images)
By Adam Ellis
Ireland stalwart Donncha O’Callaghan has announced he will retire from rugby at the end of the season to cap a career that spans almost 20 years.
The Worcester Warriors lock is currently in his 20th season as a pro after playing the vast majority of his rugby at Munster.
And the 38-year-old explained how he can have no complaints from a career which saw him represent his country 94 times and become the record appearances holder for the Thomond Park giants, playing in 268 matches.
“It’s been great. I have had a great time. I love the game and I want to finish loving it. Honestly, body wise I feel great. The game is changing though and everyone is talking about it this season,” O’Callaghan told the Irish Examiner.
After stepping up his philanthropical work in recent years with the United Nations’ child welfare arm, UNICEF, O’Callaghan added a warning to the increase in physicality elite level rugby has developed in recent years.
“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.”
O’Callaghan is a two-time tourist with the British & Irish Lions, winning four Test caps over the tours to New Zealand and South Africa in 2005 and 2009.
Forming a formidable second row partnership with Paul O’Connell for club and country, O’Callaghan was part of Munster’s maiden European Cup victory winning the trophy in 2006 by beating Biarritz 23-19.