But this time the Irish skipper won't be packing his boots as he takes his new bride, the Irish actress Amy Huberman, on honeymoon following their marriage at St Joseph's Church, in the village of Aughavas, at the weekend.

The couple stayed at the 'post match' venue, the 300-acre Lough Rynn Castle near Mohill, Co Leitrim, over the weekend before heading to Tanzania for their honeymoon this week.

Lions skipper Paul O'Connell was among the hot of international rugby guests, although O'Driscoll's long standing Ireland and Lions team mate, Ronan O'Gara, had to miss the occasion because of a very important date of his own - the imminent arrival of his latest child.