O'Gara pledges to go on and on

The 35-year-old record breaking outside half, who has won a Grand Slam and four Triple Crowns with Ireland and two Heineken Cup titles with Munster Rugby, told the Irish Examiner that he will battle with Leinster rival Jonny Sexton for the Irish No 10 jersey for two more seasons.

O'Gara, who was voted the inaugural ERC European Player of the Year in 2010, is hoping to guide unbeaten Munster to a fifth Heineken Cup final this season. He has made 103 appearances in the Heineken Cup and scored 1,287 points ahead of next week's quarter-final against Ulster Rugby at Thomond Park on Sunday, 8 April.

"I'm not retiring - I'm not even close to retiring. Calls for my retirement ... what a joke given my record over the last few years. Being frank, I'm fitter now than I was five years ago," O'Gara revealed in an interview with the Irish Examiner.

"I love playing for Munster; I love playing for Ireland. Anyone who knows me knows I'll be the first to call retirement when my time is up, but I can assure you my time ain't up.

"In fact, I have never felt better about my rugby. I've never worked harder and I am as committed as ever and I plan to play for my country until I'm 38.

"Playing is what it is all about. To walk away would be to do myself a disservice. I'd be cheating myself because I know that I'm still good enough to start and win these games.

"Age is just a number. Paulo Maldini won European player of the year when he was 39 years of age. Did anyone question his ability and commitment? And Paul Scholes is still bossing matters in midfield for Manchester United and he is well into his 30s. Like I said age is only a number and I will continue to prove that."