Tuesday 13 October 2015 17:54, UK
Tributes have poured in for Ireland's Paul O'Connell after an injury ended his international career.
The end of an era was confirmed on Tuesday morning after O'Connell tore his hamstring during Ireland's 24-9 win over France, ruling him out of the rest of the competition.
The 35-year-old, who won 108 caps, had already announced this tournament would be his Ireland swansong. He will undergo surgery this week and his move to Toulon from Munster will depend on his recovery.
The rugby fraternity have come out in support of O'Connell, who is seen as one of the greats of the modern game.
"This is so wrong on many levels. One of the greatest leaders & players of them all. Inspirational," was what Brian O'Driscoll tweeted out while Rob Howley called him a world icon.
"Unbelievable really. I think that he was capped back in 2002 and lasted 31 minutes in a game in which Ireland beat us by 54 points that day," said Howley who not only played against him, but coached him on the British and Irish Lions tours in 2009 and 2013.
"It was a watershed for Welsh rugby but on the other hand, in terms of Ireland, they created a world icon.
"He is a special person, first and foremost. His lineout exponent is second to none in the world game and it was a pleasure to work with him on the Lions tour.
"Just to see the tweets that other legends have made, in terms of Brian O'Driscoll, he deserves every accolade but first and foremost he is a top guy. A very special person. Irish rugby will miss him and even more so world rugby."
Former Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara also took to Twitter to pay tribute to O'Connell: "My sadness is tinged with absolute pride having spent 16 years with one of Rugby's greatest competitors. #gentleman #Leader #1ofakind."
Former Scotland winger Kenny Logan also took to Twitter and Kicca to share his memories and said that he hoped to see O'Connell playing again.
"Sad to hear about Paul O'Connell out of #RWC2015... Legend, ambassador, hard as nails top guy!," said Logan. "Hopefully we will get to see him play again. I would just like to say as an ex-player and as a fan, what a great ambassador of the sport, true legend of the sport, a British Lion (sic), Munster and Irish and World Cup hero.
"If anyone wants to watch how you should be a second row or an ambassador of the game, he is the man to watch."
And Argentina legend Felipe Contepomi, who has played against O'Connell at international and domestic level, believes he will soon be back to his best.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ he said: "He is a gentleman of the sport and a player who resembles all that you want to teach throughout the sport.
"For Ireland and Munster he has been a great ambassador. I feel sorry for him because if there is one man that didn't deserve to finish his international career with an injury it is him.
"That's life but he is so tough both mentally and physically that I am sure he will come back stronger. He also has a massive challenge to go out from his comfort zone of Munster to Toulon and I'm sure he will prove to everyone when he comes back that he is at his best."
