Lock forward O’Connell, 35, had said before the World Cup that he would retire from international rugby at the end of the tournament, but his departure has been enforced earlier than planned by the hamstring injury sustained during Sunday’s 24-9 pool victory over France.
“Paul O’Connell suffered a significant hamstring injury and will undergo surgery this week,” the IRFU said in a statement. “Paul will not play again at Rugby World Cup 2015 and his time out of the game will depend on the outcome of the surgery.”
Mike McCarthy has been called into the squad as a replacement ahead of Ireland's quarter-final against Argentina in Cardiff on Sunday.
