When will O'Connell call it a day?
It seemed a certainty, but now doubt has been cast over the presumption that Irish legend Paul O'Connell will retire after next year's World Cup.
According to The Irish Times O'Connell's Irish Rugby Football Union contract has him bound to play for Munster and his country, if selected, until June 2016.
The Ireland captain signed a two-year extension last August, but the issue, it seems, is the 35-year-old's durability.
"I don't really know how long I can keep on going for," O'Connell told the Times in a recent interview.
"I want to play in the World Cup and be in the best shape possible but I am still undecided if I will play on after the tournament.
"It is something that plays on my mind a little bit. I don't dread the day, but I don't think it was ever my intention to keep on playing this long. I certainly won't be putting my hand up for Lions selection in 2017. I'll be long gone from the game by then, believe me."
Unless dictated by injury, the union, and not the individual, decide when the end has arrived at international level.
O'Connell played the first of 103 Test matches against Wales in 2002, when he was forced off with concussion after scoring a try. His longevity has perhaps been assisted by some injury-enforced career breaks and Ireland's player management scheme.
His longest international hiatus was from March 2012 to June 2013, which included an entire Six Nations campaign, but he returned to his peerless best just in time to make the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
He was rested for Munster's St Stephen's Day victory over Leinster but should return, along with Conor Murray, Simon Zebo and Peter O'Mahony, for Thursday's Pro12 match against Connacht in Galway.
Source: The Irish Times
