WORCESTER Warriors captain Donncha O’Callaghan will finish his playing career at the end of this month.

In an interview with The Times, the 39-year-old lock revealed Warriors’ clash against Harlequins at Sixways on Saturday, April 28 will be his last game as a professional rugby player.

O’Callaghan, whose contract was due to expire this summer, admitted two Premiership clubs expressed their interest in signing him for next season.

But he said it was the “right time to go” as he looks to stop leading a “selfish life” as a professional sportsman and put his family first.

“Saturday, April 28, Worcester Warriors versus Harlequins will be my last game as a professional rugby player — if selected,” O’Callaghan said.

“I’ve announced my intention to retire a couple of times before, when pressed — and once you’re past 30 you’re pressed every time there’s a dictaphone in front of you — but this time I mean it.”

He continued: “Two Premiership clubs have asked to talk to me about playing next season and for this I’m flattered, but it feels like the right time to go.”

O’Callaghan said he felt fit enough to continue playing insisting his numbers in training were not “far off” what they were 11 years ago.

But he highlighted a moment in a practice session when he collided with 19-year-old Warriors forward Ted Hill.

“The game is progressing,” said O’Callaghan who made his debut in 1998.

“The physicality is increasing at a thunderous rate.

“Ted Hill ran through me in training recently when I wasn’t properly set for the collision.

“I’ve never been walloped so hard in all my days.

“I wasn’t concussed, I know what that feels like unfortunately, but when I took my gum-shield out I expected to see four teeth come with it.

“Somehow they’d remained rooted to my jaw, though I can’t feel a couple of them still.

“The bone under my eye is also more than a little numb. If I touch it, I can feel it with my finger, but not on my face.

“The most sickening aspect of this is that Ted is 19. He was born in 1999! I was 21, having played Heineken Cup rugby for Munster.”

O’Callaghan said he was keen to focus his time on his four children and his wife Jenny who live in Ireland.

“A professional sportsman has to lead a selfish life,” he added.

“But it’s not fair on my family for me to keep doing this while precious time ebbs away with me in one country and they in another.”

O’Callaghan is Munster’s most-capped player with 268 appearances over 17 years, securing two Heineken Cup winners’ medals and two Magners League titles during that time.

He has turned out 94 times for Ireland, winning the Triple Crown in 2004 and a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2009, and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and 2009.

During his time at Warriors, O’Callaghan has made 62 outings since arriving at Sixways in September 2015. He was appointed captain at the start of the season.

But he has not featured since Worcester’s defeat to Leicester Tigers last month as he has failed to gain selection for their last three games.