AS SOMEONE who was born and reared in Tipperary by a mother who came from Cork, it was inevitable that I'd be a huge Munster rugby fan from an early age. And my hero is team captain, Paul O'Connell, who plays in the position of lock, because I think he's amazing. He's head and shoulders above everyone else in rugby as far as I'm concerned.

Paul was born in Limerick in 1979, and the first time I saw him playing was in 2002, when he was only 22. He comes from a real rugby family, and his father used to play too, with I think, Young Munster, so it was definitely in his blood.

He was a talented swimmer when he was younger, and at one stage, was thinking of becoming a professional golfer. I'm so glad he didn't do it, because you can only imagine the loss it would have been to rugby.

Paul played for Young Munster RFC, and then went on to play with Munster, Ireland and the Lions. He first played for Ireland against Wales in the Six Nations 2002, and was part of the Rugby World Cup squad in 2003. He replaced Brian O'Driscoll as captain in 2004 in Ireland's first game of the Six Nations 2004 against France, and also scored the last ever international try at Lansdowne Road! He also took over from an injured O'Driscoll as Ireland captain in the historic match against France in Croke Park in the 2007 Six Nations Championship.

Paul's skills have been recognised around the world, as evidenced by the fact that he was one of five players shortlisted by the International Rugby Board for the Player of the Year award in 2006. And he was awarded Man of the Match in Ireland's 43-13 win over England during the Six Nations Championship.

I would describe him as being the engine room of the Munster team, and I think he's the equivalent of Roy Keane when he played for Manchester United or on the national team. They have this saying about him that, "The only thing fear has to fear is Paul O' Connell", because that's how good he is, and how afraid of him everyone else is. He's the one they all look to for inspiration when everything is going wrong, or they're having a bad game. Something else I've heard is that Superman is now wearing Paul O' Connell's pyjamas, and that's an indication of how revered he is, particularly in Limerick.

I think the whole Munster team is fantastic, but when Paul O'Connell is injured, everyone gets nervous. And it's not just because of his own considerable skills on the pitch, but also because of the way he motivates the other players by what he says to them beforehand and at half-time. He's such a force when he comes on to the pitch, and there's an aura of calm confidence around him that he passes on to other players. It inspires them to be more confident and to believe that they can actually win.

Paul is such a mammoth figure, both physically and metaphorically speaking.

He's six foot six and a real gentle giant, and extremely modest, which is a lovely trait to have. He's very self-deprecating, and always mentions other players in interviews, and never slags off anyone else or criticises them in any way. One of his team-mates, Donncha O'Callaghan, said once that if Paul ever got around to writing his autobiography, it would be page 78 before he got around to mentioning himself.

Many people would probably agree that Munster rugby isn't very pretty, but it's certainly very effective. The players get really down and dirty and into it, and everyone would recognise that their defence is absolutely super. A lot of people, myself included, would say that if the rugby isn't pretty, Paul O'Connell certainly is! He's only 27, and I'm quite sure he has many admirers down around the Limerick area!

It's a running joke that the difference between female Munster and Leinster fans, is that the Leinster Rugby supporters wear fake tan and short skirts, and watch the games in the stands while freezing to death. They probably wouldn't be able to tell you an awful lot about the game itself, or what a line-out or a knockon is, whereas Munster rugby girls know as much as the male fans.

And unbelievable as it may seem for someone who is such a huge fan, I actually haven't been to a match, because tickets are always so hard to get. It's a dream of mine to be there one day. I've been to see John Breen's play, Alone it Stands, three times now, which is about the historic match at Thomond Park between the 1978 Munster team and the New Zealand All Blacks.

Paul does a lot of charity work, including some for the Red Cross, which I think is fantastic. He does photocalls and interviews for them, and I think it's really nice that he uses his fame and position for something worthwhile outside of rugby.

He's not one of these people that's pictured at every beanfest and cockfight that's on around the place, and I'd say that he actively goes out of his way to avoid being in the media spotlight for reasons other than his rugby or for charity.

Laura Ryan here in TV3 was telling me that Munster fans often ask opposition fans, "What colour is Paul O'Connell's blood?" And the answer is, "Trick question - he doesn't bleed at all, " which is an indication of just how invincible they think he is.

Colette Fitzpatrick is news anchor with TV3 News, at 5.30pm, and 10.55pm daily