Paul O’Connell set to confirm Toulon switch next week

As expected, Munster's talismanic second row is set to leave the province to finish out his career in France.

Paul O’Connell is reportedly on the verge of signing a two-year deal with Toulon. A deal has been agreed for the Irish captain to join the three-in-a-row European champions after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and remain there for the remainder of the 2015/16 season and the 2016/17 season, according to the Irish Times. O'Connell is expected to make an announcement next week to confirm the move, which is still pending approval by both Munster and the IRFU. Early reports indicate that O’Connell may even travel to Cote d’Azur next week to undergo a medical. After 14 seasons of service to Munster, the club are set to allow O'Connell to grant O'Connell his wish of seeing out the rest of his professional career in France. As former Munster man Paul Warwick wrote earlier this week, the move won't affect his legacy at the province.

"There is talk about him being a one-man club and what a move would do to his legacy. I don't buy into that. No player has given more to the club than O'Connell. Munster have had so many good players over the years but he is a different class. If he were to move, it would not tarnish him in any way. He deserves to be in this spot - where he can choose if he wants to join Toulon - after all he has given to the sport."

[caption id="attachment_26503" align="alignnone" width="630"] Ireland's Jamie Heaslip arrives at Thomond Park and walks by a picture of O'Connell.
( ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)[/caption]