Paul O’Connell is reportedly ready to sign a two-year contract with French club Toulon.
The Irish Times have reported that O’Connell will sign with the European champions as early as next week.
O’Connell’s Munster career comes to an end this weekend in the Guinness Pro12 final against Glasgow, before Ireland’s most capped player brings the curtain down on his international career at the World Cup.
Speculation had been whether or not O’Connell would retire completely from rugby after the World Cup in England, but it now seems apparent that the Limerick legend will sign with Mourad Boudjellal's bank-rolled side in the south of France.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, O'Connell's former Munster team-mate Ronan O'Gara, said that Munster will be able to go on without their talismanic second row, but also that O'Connell deserved the opportunity to play club rugby in France.
"He deserves that - to do exactly what he wants to do. He has driven one whole province for close on 15 years" - Ronan O'Gara
"The show goes on no matter how good you are. He's been the greatest. Paul missed periods of nine months, I think in 2006 or 2008, when I was captain. So, it goes on," said O'Gara.
"He is irreplacable. What he brings to the set-up is different to any other player. So, for Munster he'll be a huge loss, but the timing is right.
"Paul really enjoyed playing with people. There was probably a core there of ten people that were playing for over a ten-year period.
"He's the last of them along with Donncha O'Callaghan. I think he feels he's done all he could there and it's time for him to take on another challenge.
"He deserves that - to do exactly what he wants to do. He has driven one whole province for close on 15 years."
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