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Bret Harris | May 23, 2009
Article from: The Australian
THE Brumbies will seek an answer from Wallabies prodigy James O'Connor on their contract offer sooner rather than later, so they know how much they have left in their budget for an overseas winger.
O'Connor, who is poised to start at fullback for the Wallabies against the Barbarians in Sydney on June 6, is weighing up whether to join the Brumbies or stay at Western Force.
The ACT-based side is also in negotiations with several foreign outside backs, but it cannot finalise any deals until it knows O'Connor's intentions.
Chief executive Andrew Fagan said yesterday the Brumbies had not imposed a deadline on O'Connor, but the offer could not remain on the table indefinitely.
"James is taking his time and we respect his reasons," Fagan said.
"But the offer can't stay there forever. We will need an answer sooner than later. We have to finalise our squad and we need to know how much money we've got to spend if James is not coming to secure other options.
"We have had discussions with a couple of foreign players and there is mutual interest.
"... we can't put an offer on the table before we finalise negotiations with James.
"We don't want to miss out on James and the other player too, but we are not at that point yet.
"If it gets to a point where we need to make a decision, we'll communicate that to him. We are eagerly awaiting a decision."
Fagan said O'Connor, 18, was also negotiating with the ARU for his Wallabies top-up after being named in the 29-man squad on Thursday for the inbound internationals.
"James has made the Wallabies squad and will be negotiating with the ARU to finalise that component of his contract," Fagan said.
"I'd like to think the ARU component will be finalised sooner rather than later so he can focus on which province he wants to play for."
The Brumbies are looking to recruit O'Connor to play inside centre or fullback, but his decision could also decide whether they renew former Wallabies winger Clyde Rathbone's contract.
"We are unable to offer Clyde a contract at this stage, but it doesn't mean we won't later," Fagan said.
The Force is desperate to retain O'Connor after losing Wallabies backs Matt Giteau (Brumbies), Josh Valentine (Brumbies), Drew Mitchell (Waratahs) and Scott Staniforth (Japan).
Much will depend on whether the Force can recruit a quality foreign five-eighth to take the pressure off O'Connor at inside centre.
They have already approached several internationals, including Peter Grant, Derick Hougaard, Charlie Hodgson, Carlos Spencer and Frederic Michalak.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html