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Alan Quinlan has paid tribute to former Munster and Ireland team-mate Paul OConnell, whose determination to succeed led to the nickname Psycho.OConnell announced his retirement from all forms of rugby on Tuesday, bringing to an end a career that spanned more than 14 years at the top.A severe hamstring injured suffered against France during the World Cup marked his final international appearance for his country, but the second row had signed a two-year deal with Toulon that started at the beginning of the current season. Its an incredible legacy to be honest, just the impact hes had on the game - not just in Ireland but throughout the world. Hes known as an iconic figure and a really fantastic leader. Alan Quinlan on Paul OConnell However after failing to fully recover from the injury, OConnell was advised by doctors to call time on a playing career that was decorated with three Six Nations titles and a Grand Slam with Ireland, and five European and PRO12 trophies with Munster.OConnells success at the top was a direct result of his determination to succeed, according to Quinlan. OConnell announces retirement Paul OConnell announces retirement from rugby Hes a hard man and hes very driven, the former Munster and Ireland back-row told Sky Sports. Weve been close as friends and he was never afraid to tell someone if they werent pulling their weight or if they werent focused or concentrating enough for the team. Former Ireland and Lions captain Paul OConnell has announced his retirement from rugby We had plenty of rows and arguments over the years about lineouts and about different strategies. Youve got to be tough, youve got to be resilient, youve got to be very determined and aggressive to achieve what he has achieved. OConnell: Ive been very lucky Paul OConnell reflects on long and enjoyable career We called him Psycho, Ronan OGara and myself. He was so psycho and so driven to succeed, and anyone or anything that gets in his way, he just goes straight out over them. Thats the determination.Its a great drive and a desire thats got him an incredible amount of achievement. Paul OConnell celebrates scoring a try on his Ireland debut against Wales in 2002 OConnell and Quinlan played together for club and country for 10 years, and Quinlan says he is not surprised by the outpouring of respect for his his former team-mate, adding that his leadership qualities were obvious from an early age.Its an incredible legacy to be honest, just the impact he has had on the game - not just in Ireland but throughout the world. Hes known as an iconic figure and a really fantastic leader. O'Connell: I've been very lucky Hes someone who has set a great example for young people. He has really natural leadership qualities and is a very selfless person. The team is very important to Paul OConnell.Hes not one for individual accolades, hes not one for the limelight, he just wants the team to do well.He just has this innate ability to drive people around him to play above themselves and achieve above their own standards. He gets the best out of people and its a real quality, not everyone has those kinds of qualities; to be able to push and drive and lead a group of people. The world of social media reacts to the news that Paul OConnell has retired His all-conquering personality on the field complemented a much more relaxed attitude off it, says Quinlan.He can put on the game face and does it really well, but hes great fun away from the field. Weve had great fun on tours and weve been on holidays together in groups.He loves a bit of fun, a bit of craic. Hes always up for a laugh and thats part of his personality as well, and thats what made him popular with players.He doesnt keep to himself, he likes to mix with people all the time, and hes intrigued by what everyone else does.Hes a great character, a really funny person who is very popular with anyone hes played with and against. OConnell makes his way down the tunnel with his son Paddy, 5, after his last home international match Quinlan and OConnell won two Heineken Cups with Munster in 2006 and 2008 and the former has expressed his desire to see the latter back at the province in a mentoring capacity.Id like to see him straight away go back in and get involved with Munster, he said.Hes someone who has so much to offer the game. Hes very intelligent and I know hes interested in business and trying to explore avenues around the business world as well, but hes just too good to be lost to rugby.He inspired people on the field when he was playing, and I think he can do the same in coaching or a managerial role.Also See:OConnell: Ive been very luckyOConnell announces retirementFarewell to a legendOConnell tributesFake Nike NFL Jerseys . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Nike NFL Jerseys China . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. https://www.chinajerseysnfl.us/ . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete.RIO DE JANEIRO -- They are buddies, Usain Bolt and David Rudisha, two runners who both made loud statements at the last Olympics.Off the track, one of them speaks louder -- and much more often -- than the other.Even though Rudisha, the 800-meter Olympic champion from Kenya, refers to Bolt as his brother from another mother, you really couldnt get two more contrasting characters.You can see and hear Bolt coming from a mile away. The sports No. 1 showman is all fabulous flash and dazzle, with the Bolt show opening this week in Rio de Janeiro with a packed news conference featuring Samba dancers, loads of selfies, and the Jamaican busting out a few moves of his own to some banging music for his adoring audience.No big deal for Bolt, but its safe to say that wouldnt happen with Rudisha.Apart from a couple of tweets -- one of them politely thanking the airline crew that flew him over to Brazil -- youre unlikely to see or hear much of the softly spoken and completely unassuming Rudisha until Friday. But then, when the running begins and the world-record holder over two laps stretches out his long legs on the first day of the track competition, you might remember that he also provided one of the most pulsating performances of the 2012 London Games with a record-breaking, wire-to-wire win.It was Rudisha versus the clock in the 800 final fours years ago -- the rest of the field faded into insignificance -- and it was a race of such pure dominance that even Bolt appreciated it. In London, the fastest man in the world put a media interview on hold to watch Rudisha get his gold at the medal ceremony, with Bolt standing to attention in respect as the Kenyan anthem played. Maybe that was payback for Bolt winning the 200 meters on the same day, and stealing Rudishas thunder.Rudisha really likes that Bolt is about much more than just self-promotion.When we meet, we always have a word since we know each other and its a great thing since we respect each other like brothers from different mothers, Rudisha said. He always makes time to come and watch us run, which tells you hes a true athlete who does not only go to support his event. I also make sure I dont miss his races when I have the chance.Funny thing: Rudisha says he and other Kenyans look up to Bolt as a big brother -- Bolt, at 29, is two years older than Rudisha but of all the roles you might entrust to Usain Bolt, the responsible older brother isnt the firstt one that comes to mind.ddddddddddddStill, Rudisha seems to have learned a little from Bolt. Often portrayed as humble, shy even, Rudisha can now do a little boasting of his own. Theres plenty to boast about. He holds the three fastest times ever over 800 meters, as Bolt does in the 100, and has seven of the top 12.That performance is not a joke, those fast times. I have run under 1 minute, 42 seconds more than any other person, Rudisha said in an interview in Kenya ahead of the Rio Olympics. I dont think anybody will run like that anytime soon.In Rio, Bolt is ready to put the finishing touches on his legacy, while Rudisha is still building his. Rudisha has that Olympic title, and world titles in 2011 and 2015, but he still remembers a stinging failure at the 2009 world championships, when he got boxed in and eliminated in the semifinals. He was angry at the time and the memory still spurs him on.Rudishas form this season has been understated, copping a couple of losses in the Diamond League and only finishing third in the Kenyan trials, before putting up a world-leading time of 1:43.35 last month in Hungary. Thats put him only slightly ahead of Kenyan teammate Alfred Kipketer and American rival Boris Berian.But, again, he doesnt mind a quiet buildup. Rudisha has a habit of saving his best for when it counts.There is always that expectation (to run fast times) and it requires a lot of discipline when I appear in any meeting, since it is not easy to do the times everyone expects all the time, he said. So I try not to go all out for those fast times but to stay in shape. My preparations have been coming (good). I know in Rio I will be somewhere there.If he retains his title, Rudisha might even get to keep this gold medal. He gave the one from London to his father, Daniel. That was returning the favor after his father, a silver medalist with Kenyas 4x400 relay team at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, gave his medal to a young David years back to inspire him.I always admired his medal and when I brought the gold back to him, it was the realization of the dream, David Rudisha said.Dads take on his sons success?Im Rudisha, he said. Hes riding on my name.---Follow Gerald Imray on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP---Follow the Rio Games at http://www.summergames.ap.org/ ' ' '