The 27 seven year old was short listed for the role by squad members at a meeting in Limerick on Tuesday, a meeting of those short listed then selecting OConnell to skipper the squad.

OConnell will join up with the national squad this weekend for the formal start to the build-up to the World Cup when Eddie OSullivan brings them together in Limerick for a training camp.

It means of course that OConnell will not lead the side out until Irelands involvement in the World Cup is finished. They play their final Pool match against Argentina on September 30th while the quarter finals are scheduled for the weekend of October 6th,  the semi finals a week later and the final scheduled for October 20th.

Munster begin their season with three warm up matches (v US Eagles, Chicago, August 26th; v Saracens, Cork, September 7th; v Viadana, Cork, September 14th) and kick-off their competitive campaign with a  home tie (Musgrave Park)  against Llanelli Scarlets on Friday September 21st.