All those hours spent swimming paid off for Paul O’Connell

When a "tall, skinny" Paul O'Connell began his playing days with Young Munster all those years ago few would have genuinely foreseen the career that lay ahead - for those closest to him though the tools that today define Ireland's about-to-be 100-time capped captain were clear to see.

Ahead of that milestone international cap the Irish captain makes up the final part of Three's three part series which has already included Robbie Henshaw and Johnny Sexton.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6am to 8am before school, 6pm to 7pm every evening after school, 9am to 11am on Saturday and 8am to 10am every Sunday. That was a young Paul O’Connell’s swimming training timetable, one which his old coach John Dempsey says was key to instilling the leadership qualities and drive which the Munster man today exudes.

“His will to win and his dedication stood out - after one competition I said to him ‘you and I are going to the Olympics,” says Dempsey.

“All the hours of training .. swimming was a great character builder for him.”

The video also includes former Munster and Ireland team mate Ronan O’Gara and Paul’s father Michael.

How proud a moment must it be to watch your son collect his 100th cap - how proud a moment must it be for Paul O’Connell to be your son full stop;

“He was always unbelievably competitive, I would always expect him to win, he was so competitive.

“It’s fairly emotional but I think it’s emotional every time to be quite honest.”