Paul O’Connell could make Toulon debut as early as January

Paul O’Connell hopes to make his debut for Toulon as early as next month. This despite the 36-year-old former Ireland captain tearing his hamstring clean off the bone just before half-time of the France game at the World Cup on October 11th.

“It’s good, it’s on the mend,” said O’Connell at his official unveiling as Toulon’s billionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal’s latest Galactico. “I’ve been doing physio back in Ireland, so I feel very good doing every day things. I haven’t started running yet. Hopefully, I’ll be back January or February, I’m not fully sure yet.”

When asked if he meant actually playing rugby, O’Connell was understandably hesitant: “I don’t know . . . January, February, I don’t know.”

It took Cian Healy five months to recover from a similar injury and subsequent surgery while Iain Henderson is also facing a five to six month recuperation period.

But O’Connell envisages possibly featuring against Bath or Wasps in the final pool games of the Champions Cup.

“I feel great, the weather’s amazing,” O’Connell added. “It’s raining non-stop in Ireland at the moment. I’ve met the players, stood in for the team photo today. A lot of guys, I was really looking forward to meeting. I know a lot of the players to say hello to, but I don’t really know them. I haven’t really met them or had a conversation with them. So, I’m looking forward to getting to know them, to getting to know the staff as well. I was in my first meeting today, that was enjoyable, I watched a bit of training. It’s all good.

“I like (the jersey), it’s very strange for me. I’ve only ever played for Munster, I’ve only ever lived in Limerick. It’s a big change for me, I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also nervous about it. So, I like the jersey and I’m looking forward to wearing it.”