O’Driscoll, 33, missed the entirety of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations after undergoing shoulder surgery and could only watch as his country won two matches, lost two and drew 17-17 against the French in Paris.

O’Driscoll made his first-class comeback for Leinster against the Ospreys last month and is now focused on helping the club become the first Irish province to win back-to-back Heineken Cups.     

"I'm not in a place at the moment where I am going to worry about how long I play for," said O’Driscoll.

"Right now, I am enjoying my rugby. We are where we want to be.

“We are top of the league and in the knockout stages of Europe so I don't see any need to be putting a timeline on when I am going to finish."

O’Driscoll’s team-mate for club and country, Shane Horgan, announced his retirement from professional rugby last week but any thoughts the formerBritish Lions captain would follow him or set a date for retirement, like Ronan O’Gara, were rubbished by a defiant O’Driscoll.

"There is no need to be putting a time limit on anyone,” he said.

“If they are in good form, their body is feeling good and they are mentally in a good place then I think you play on as long as possible. Just ask Brad Thorn.

"I spoke to Ronan the other day and he mentioned 38 but he mentioned 38 so people would get off his back and stop asking him when he is going to retire.”