James O’Connor – AAP Image
ROAR EXCLUSIVE: James O’Connor was the only absentee from Thursday’s Wallabies Rugby World Cup squad announcement. The official line was that he was absent due to personal reasons. He hasn’t yet explained his whereabouts to the ARU.
The Roar understands that on the evening of the most important moment this year in the lead-up to the Wallabies’ quest to win the Rugby World Cup, and with less than a month until the campaign begins, O’Connor was out drinking into the early hours with a fellow Wallaby.
The next morning O’Connor, we understand, could not be contacted by Wallaby team management, and despite numourous attempts to contact him, he failed to attend the team announcement.
O’Connor, we understand, has yet to explain where he was that night and why he did not turn-up with the rest of his team mates on the morning of the announcement.
He has yet to explain why he could not be contacted, despite being in a Wallaby camp.
Earlier this evening, The Roar contacted the ARU for comment.
The ARU response was that they have requested O’Connor explain his actions and, until they have received a response from O’Connor, they cannot comment further.
The Roar also understands O’Connor was drinking with a fellow Wallaby. The player in question however, who has form in this department, turned up to the event as required.
In June 2009, O’Connor, Quade Cooper and Josh Valentine were fined several thousand dollars by the ARU for “engaging in a food fight” at a Wallabies team hotel. No details were revealed by the ARU at the time, nor was it confirmed if the action were serious.
O’Connor was the youngest Super 14 debutant, at 17 years and 303 days, and at the end of the 2011 Super Rugby season O’Connor signed a two year contract with the Melbourne Rebels.
More news as we receive it.
Happy Hooker
Guest
I hope she was worth it ....
Timnaik
Guest
Put that pup in the dog house!
Jack Petro
Guest
You must play by the rules of the organisation so next time JOC should be reminded of the old saying: "Train Hard, Play Hard, Back UP!"
rubgy sheila
Guest
I would like to know... where in a "team culture" were James O'Conner's mates in this episode? Presumably he was out with mates the evening before his 'no show', (or there were mates who knew where he was) and I can't understand why they didn't look after him. It is extremely hard for young people to respond appropriately to the 'instant' adulation/fame/interest that comes with achieving at a professional level, and I think his more experienced team mates could have done a better job of looking after him. If 'Team' is about 'family'... well this Team failed to look after the baby! He's young, he's a great player, he has humility and generally conducts himself well... give him a chance to grow up, but team mates... look after him.
mattamkII
Guest
Ok then apaway ...change it to. EXCLUSIVE! 21 year old repeats wanky marketing term he no doubt heard from a marketing guru....a couple of months later he gets drunk and sleeps through alarm – Misses wanky work function. Who gives a toss That better? Get some perspective guys and stop jumping on any chance to judge.
cros
Guest
JOC is a professional. This is not the standard. Simple as that.
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
If the papers are right this morning, he has already had his "don't be a dickhead" talk from his captain on the spring tour.....it will be interesting to see how the ARU reacts now.
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
According to reports this morning, maybe we should leave Beale off that list now......
johnny-boy
Guest
Good point strine - his kicking has been looking a bit strained lately - maybe he just needed to let it all hang out for a night to chill and get relaxed.
apaway
Guest
Good point, he could serve Bundy and improve his barman brand!
Damo
Guest
Kiwirugbygirl obviously isn't hasn't been out much. Last time I looked beer was flowing freely in NZ and surprise surprise many kiwi fellas were drinking it, (unless they were Aussies in all black jerseys).
Mike Oxsaw
Guest
Kuruki. ABs supporter huh? Does JOC worry you a wee-bit does he? Calling for a suspension over a sleep in might suggest so. While we're at it, why hasn't Richie McCaw been suspended for having a haircut straight out of 1992? It's a blight on the game! I'm pretty sure Dan Carter would have had pre-marital intercourse at some point... out for the season? Maturity is not measured by the number on the bottom of your bank statement. Throwing a bunch of money at someone does not magically turn them into a mature, responsible, professional adult. No one was hurt, nothing illegal happened & JOC would have been embarressed and sh!@ting his duds. Noone really noticed, or cared that he wasn't there. Everyone take a deep breath and calm down.
Kuruki
Guest
So your saying if you went to the pub and did not turn up for work in the morning, failed to ring in and couldn't be contacted you would not loose your job?. People get fired everyday for this kind of thing an none of that is ever media related is it?. And most of the time these punishments happen, it is the club who let the media know the situation before they even have a sniff of it. So to blame this on media pressure is ridiculous. There are procedures in place at every club to deal with these things. These are high profile sportsmen who are representing there country and in the biggest stage on the planet, they do not have the luxury of a low profile like everybody else, and that is fair enough because they are paid accordingly. The players are doing a pretty good job at making the sport a soap opera without any of my doing. The hair gell the flashy boots the new dance routines during goal kicks and after tries. When a professional is selected to represent his country then everything he does should be professional, if these young guys do not know how to live up to this role then maybe they should not be there. They have ample opportunity to relax and have a few beers after a game using it as an excuse not to turn up to work deserves punishment full stop. I think some of you are just a bit peeved off because you realize the implications this could have for Aussie to win the Tri Nations.
Galaxy Hop
Guest
If only they were all out drinking and bonding instead of at the BS press conference. ARU officials could have read and the names and released them online.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
I suggest he deserves to be dropped. I base this not on any "he done bad" thing, but rather based on his clear immaturity. If one is going to tie one on, that is fine and well. But if you have commitments the next day, you better get there, whether you think you are going to die or not. If you are going to get hammered then man up for the hang over. Immature behaviour to wuss out.
p.Tah
Guest
Good post Mike. I agree. To be honest I was surprised The Roar published this 'exclusive'. The moderators want to uphold a standard on comments to differentiate this website, but then run an article like this.
Mike Oxsaw
Guest
Would it cost him his spot if media agencies didn't publish this rubbish? No. It's all well and good to say "we can publish this because he will miss a game". But what is actually happening is the media and the people, like you, who want sport to be a soap opera, are forcing sporting organizations into suspending players for making mistakes like regular humans, or risk further wrath from the media. He needs a clip over the ear from his captain and to be told that if he wants respect from his team-mates, that is not the way to go about it. As we saw with QC, he needs encouragement and guidance from some old heads. Admonishment not punishment.
Ros Wkles
Guest
I was absolutely disgusted with the way Rocky Elsom wAs dropped from the Captaincy of the Wallabies and the way it was announced when I saw it on television. The Wallabies obviously have their reasons but I always thought Union was a game of gentlemen. How wrong could I be!
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Sorry, neighbour Katz, it does sound more like panic than like care. :-)
RebelRanger
Guest
And he was like baby, baby, baby oooooh. Baby, baby, baby nooooooo. Thought that 14 jersey would be mine, mine.