LOCK Donncha O’Callaghan says he was faced with two decisions when he was frozen out at Munster – hang up his boots or look for a new challenge.

The vastly-experienced forward, 36, believes he made the right choice after Worcester Warriors came knocking on his door.

“I feel like I’ve got a bit of rugby left in me.

"It was 100 per cent a selfish decision by me to come to Worcester and my family are fully supportive of it,” he said.

“They know that for two or three years I can add something rugby-wise and my wife Jennifer said, ‘If you have the itch to keep playing, just do it’.

“Because I had little involvement at Munster in the last year it was either one of two decisions – hang up the boots or look for a new challenge – and that’s why I was thankful to Dean Ryan.

“Not only did he show me the set-up, he shared the vision and his drive was massive for me.

“He told me what he sees coming down the tracks and how he feels I can add to it.

“After a tough year, having that feeling of value has been great.

“I know better than anyone that it’s all about performance.

“You can be a great leader off the pitch and set good standards but you’re judged on Saturdays for 80 minutes on the park and that’s important.”

O’Callaghan has been involved in all four of Warriors’ Aviva Premiership matches, with his robust defence and tough tackling clear to see.

He continued: “I came back after the Northampton Saints game with friction burns all down my face, cuts and a black eye and my wife said she’d never seen me so happy.

“It’s different when you’re not involved.

"It’s like being invited to a disco to watch someone else dance with your girl – it’s hard to do and you just can’t handle it.

“I love Munster – I was born and bred there and it’s my team but I just wasn’t playing.

“You have to be realistic and I am massively thankful to Dean and the lads for this opportunity.”

O’Callaghan and his family have moved into the heart of Worcester and he’s enjoying getting used to life in the city.

He said: “At the start, my fiveyear- old thought living in England was rubbish because we had no television.

“They didn’t realise that getting a TV was not high on their dad’s priority!

“But, with four kids in the house, you need Peppa Pig and Dora the Explorer on the television.to give you a little respite and the kids are now enjoying it.

“I need to have an emotional attachment to a place so it’s massive for me to get in and around the people you represent and everything is great.

“It’s about making sure you care about the place you’re from and that you go out and represent them on the field.

“Because I am around the city centre and I walk in and out of the city a fair bit, you meet the fans and they like to chat about the match – and I love doing that.

“I love getting an emotional attachment and I don’t want to walk down the main street in Worcester if we haven’t done well on the Saturday.

“I hate to meet a supporter who I have let down because I carry a loss with me until I get a chance to put it right.

“I love where I am living. I have really great neighbours and I am enjoying it.”

And the former Ireland international was made to feel at home when he played against Gloucester at Kingsholm last month.

“A school group on a visit from Ireland watched,” he recalled.

“We were defending a lineout in the far corner and all I could hear was a rendition of The Fields of Athenry.

“To be away from home and to hear that was fantastic.

“I have been in Thomond Park with 30,000 people screaming it but it was special to hear 30 schoolchildren giving it a belt in Kingsholm.”