Ireland captain Paul O'Connell pulled out of the World Cup and ended his international career on Tuesday because of a hamstring injury suffered against France.

"Paul O'Connell suffered a significant hamstring injury and will undergo surgery this week," the Irish rugby union 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."

Leinster's Mike McCarthy has been called up to the Ireland squad, now preparing to take on Argentina in the quarter finals on Sunday. McCarthy was to arrive on in Cardiff on Tuesday.

"A leader, a warrior, a gentleman (Paul O'Connell) has played his last for Ireland," the Irish union also tweeted.

O'Connell, 35, was stretchered off at half-time of Ireland's 24-9 final Pool D victory over France at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and spent the night in hospital.

His future coach at Toulon, Bernard Laporte, told French radio RMC on Monday that the 108-time capped O'Connell would be out for around three months.

O'Connell's absence comes hot on the heels of flanker Peter O'Mahony, who was ruled out after suffering knee ligament damage in the brutal victory over France.

Influential centre Jared Payne also returned home last week with a foot fracture.

And there are lingering doubts over fly-half Jonny Sexton, who went off after 25 minutes of the France game with a groin injury.

Coach Joe Schmidt will have his fingers crossed that Sexton is available for Sunday's quarter-final against Argentina, notably with star openside flanker Sean O'Brien to appear at a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for hitting French lock Pascal Pape.
Source: AFP