Paul O'Connell to captain Ireland in Six Nations

30/12/2011

Fans enjoying hospitality packages when England play Ireland in the Six Nations at Twickenham will be seeing the men in green led out by Paul O'Connell.

The Munster skipper, who has 82 caps to his name, has been picked to lead the side while regular captain Brian O'Driscoll continues his recovery from surgery on a trapped nerve in his shoulder.

O'Connell has stood in as national captain before, including last summer, as well as leading the British and Irish Lions side on their 2009 tour of South Africa.

Responding to the news, he commented: "The greatest ambition in a player's career is to play for your country, so to captain Ireland is a huge honour for me and I was delighted when Declan (Kidney) asked me to."

The popularity of watching rugby at Twickenham was demonstrated in world record style on Boxing Day, when Harlequins staged their home game against Saracens at the venue and filled it to the rafters with 82,000 coming through the turnstiles, the largest regular season club rugby attendance in history.

By Keith Prowse