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Alan Quinlan: 'I can't see Paul O'Connell going to Toulon'

Alan Quinlan believes any prospect of Paul O'Connell leaving Munster for Toulon is remote. The Fr...



Alan Quinlan: 'I can't...
Rugby

Alan Quinlan: 'I can't see Paul O'Connell going to Toulon'

Alan Quinlan believes any prospect of Paul O'Connell leaving Munster for Toulon is remote.

The French club denied any attempts to recruit the Ireland captain and Quinlan told Off The Ball: "Being realistic, I don't know how it's going to happen. He's contracted until the end of 2015-16 season. He's going to be 36 then. I can't see him going. You never know with Paul. Part of him, I know, would love to experience different cultures, but I think it's too late unfortunately and he's got too much going on here."

Meanwhile, The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley was also on Wednesday Night Rugby and feels question marks over the future of Leinster head coach Matt O'Connor are "harsh".

Quinlan also feels that not all the blame should be heaped on O'Connor's shoulders.

"He's got a fair bit of flak, Matt O'Connor, but I don't think it's all his fault. He's quite popular amongst the players and it's a huge act to follow in following Joe Schmidt," he said, although the former Munster back row acknowledges that it has been a poor year for the province.

But he highlighted the positives next year with Jonny Sexton and Isa Nacewa returning.  

Gerry also gave his take on Australia's decision to amend their foreign-based player rules ahead of the Rugby World Cup, and contrasted it with England's policy not to pick Toulon's Steffon Armitage, while Quinlan believes it is a means of facilitating fellow Toulon man Matt Giteau.

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