STATEMENT FROM RUGBYWA: JAMES O’CONNOR

[RugbyRef]

I hear rumours that he is in talks with London Irish.
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I heard London Irish on the radio this morning.

London Irish may be calling for James O’Connor as he leaves Australia


Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 20:19


Discarded Australia back James O’Connor has decided to quit rugby Down Under and seek a fresh start in England – and a possible move to London Irish – but he hopes to return next year and break back into the Wallabies side in time for the 2015 World Cup.

O’Connor, who was released from his Australian Rugby Union (ARU) contract earlier this month after being escorted by police from Perth airport, ended talks with his former club Western Force yesterday.

Following a string of disciplinary lapses, the Perth-based Force were the sole Australian Super Rugby team interested in O’Connor but the richly talented 23-year-old told them he would seek greener pastures.

“It was the toughest decision I’ve ever made,” he told local media. “I’ve spent the last month or so at home on the Gold Coast with my family and friends and have done some soul searching. I’ve just realised that I need to get away from everything and be my own man.

“I’ve got a lot of support structures here that it’s easy for me to rely on so going over there will be a fresh start.”


Money
While he has been widely pilloried for describing himself as a “brand” after leaving the Force in 2011, O’Connor denied his move abroad was all about money.

“If I was chasing money it’s a lot more lucrative in Japan and France,” he said. “England’s going to be tough rugby and it’s going to be good for me off the field.

O’Connor said he hoped to return to Australia in May but his failure to sign with a local Super Rugby side has effectively ruled him out of selection for the Wallabies in 2014, despite hopes the wayward talent might be rehabilitated.

The ARU only allows players who commit to provincial rugby at home to be picked for national duty, though the governing body has previously finessed that rule.

O’Connor conceded the move was a gamble but said he had the support of Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie and Force coach Bernard Foley.

The move caps a stunning fall from grace for O’Connor, who was the starting outhalf during the British and Irish Lions series but was cut adrift by the ARU earlier this month after the Perth airport incident.

The 23-year-old was escorted by police from the airport after being refused access to a flight to Bali because airline staff said he was intoxicated.


Thin ice
That was the final straw for O’Connor, who had been on thin ice following disciplinary breaches during the Lions tour, including being photographed at a fast food restaurant in the early hours of the morning with team-mate Kurtley Beale days before the second Test.

Following the Lions series, he was sensationally dumped by Super Rugby team Melbourne Rebels after two injury-plagued seasons.

Only his old club Force were prepared to offer him a lifeline.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugb...alia-1.1570978

looks like my sauces are tastier (and faster) than yours

[WFDom]

If anyone is feeling a bit pee'd off about not snagging our old winger back. Let me remind you of what our new one can do......

[WFDom]

And a cherry on top!

See ya JOC. G'day Mozza!

[SNOB]

Still think he would make a difference.
A club ethos doesn't take long to rub off. I still think we would have been his best.
But I hope this works for him and he comes back because we (ARU) need him.
But I'm doubtful that he will return to the Force as NSW rugby will yet again have the pulling power!

[WFDom]

Still think he would make a difference.
A club ethos doesn't take long to rub off. I still think we would have been his best.
But I hope this works for him and he comes back because we (ARU) need him.
But I'm doubtful that he will return to the Force as NSW rugby will yet again have the pulling power!

Very much agree with you Snob. I think if he had have gone with us he would have 100% backed up the humble stance he was taking a few weeks back when he was talking about getting back in the Wobs. It would have been a long hard road, but absolutely worth it in the end & showed the rugby world how serious he was about the whole deal. Feel we could have turned him around.

His decisions now seen like he's taking a financially attractive short cut, & still wants what's best for the brand. I was on his side all the way until the talk of "partnership" yesterday. That left a bad taste.

I still don't think he's completely learned his lesson.

Anyway... onward and upward... I mean VERTICAL!

[The InnFORCEr]

For everything I've read, heard and seen, I am of the opinion that a "conditional" deal has already been done for him to return to the Force in May 2014 "if" he has complied with the "conditions".

He would be eligible to get into our Super Rugby Squad if we had a season ending injury (which year have we not had that?), re-sign with the ARU and head off on Spring Tour in preparation for RWC 2015.

I don't think the ARU would put him back in a Super team with KB, so we are all he really has here.

[WF1964]

Looks like he's keeping them waiting now:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...james-oconnor/

[UNCLE BOOG]

he had to tweet that he made it onto the plane this time! haha.

[zed]

That's obviously not air asia!

[WF1964]

& still not sitting next to the girlfriend.

[WF2006]

Or the kind of seats that I can afford!

[WF1964]

Perhaps that hosty is his personal drinks monitor.

[RugbyRef]

JOC is expected to be confirmed by London Irish today.
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[The InnFORCEr]

Should officially be official at 7pm WST tonight.
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[PeterM]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...-london-irish/


London Irish have signed Australian international James O'Connor until the end of the season, the English club announced on Tuesday.

The troubled playmaker is expected to debut for the club in their match against Northampton on Sunday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Australian coach Ewen McKenzie stressed O'Connor needed to be back playing Super Rugby next year to be considered for a Wallabies recall, a requirement his new contract short-term fulfils.

McKenzie was coy on his feelings over the move, hinting he might have preferred the talented 23-year-old to remain in Australia to deal with the behavioural issues which led to his Australian Rugby Union contract being terminated.

The coach, in London ahead of the Wallabies' clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday, said it was crucial O'Connor returned to Australia next season if he was serious about a recall.

"He's got to be playing Super Rugby in Australia to be in the mix," said McKenzie, who did not know any details about the move.

"I don't know what a few months is. I don't know how it works.

"In the end, I'll just watch Super Rugby next year and invest time in the five teams and the players there. The ones that are eligible to play are the ones I'll be choosing from."

O'Connor was axed earlier this month after a disciplinary investigation found he had failed to "uphold the behavioural and cultural standards expected within the team".

It came after an incident in which he was escorted from Perth Airport for drunken behaviour, the morning after he played on the wing in the Wallabies' Rugby Championship win against Argentina.

McKenzie has kept in contact with O'Connor and, asked whether he preferred him to remain in Australia, the coach said: "I made it clear what my preference was in terms of for him as a person.

"I wasn't talking to him as a coach, I was talking to him as a person and that's between me and him.

"He's made his own decisions there. I've had a lot of discussions with him about what I think's important but, ultimately, he's in his shoes and he's got to make decisions about his life.

"I've encouraged him: whatever decision you make, make it the right decision."

The player said in a statement last week: "I believe the move, for a few months, will be beneficial for me to develop in a different environment and help me to be the best rugby player and person that I can be.

"It will also ensure that I continue playing professional rugby immediately and not wait until early in the new year to resume competition.

"I want to give myself every opportunity to get back into the Wallabies' side and to represent Australia in the 2015 Rugby World Cup."