James O’Connor’s alleged cocaine possession appears to have cost him a future at Toulon as the French rugby club weighs up his immediate punishment.
The Top 14 club’s owner Mourad Boudjellal says O’Connor’s contract, set to end in July, will be his last.
“He has reopened the debate about his contract extension. We are not going to renew it,” Boudjellal told French newspaper, Le Figaro.
“We are going to try and manage this season. But I don’t want to overwhelm him.”
The former Wallabies winger was reportedly charged with possession of the drug following his arrest in Paris over the weekend.
According to AFP, he and former All Black Ali Williams, who faces the more serious charge of buying cocaine, were charged and later released from custody on Sunday.
While Williams is due to appear in court at a later date, O’Connor can escape with a fine.
Boudjellal said the 26-year-old O’Connor would be suspended.
“He is not going to escape without a suspension, of course,” he said.
“After that we will make a decision. James has done something stupid and it’s difficult to defend him.
“I am going to talk about it with him. He’s a lad of 26-years-old. I’m not here to destroy him. But I’m not here to favour him, either.”
O’Connor had recently been attempting to negotiate a new contract with Toulon, but earlier this month claimed to be in talks with Australian Super Rugby teams.
A return to Australia would put the former Western Force, Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Reds utility back in the Wallabies’ frame for the 2019 World Cup, but it seems like a long shot given his off-field indiscretions.
O’Connor played 44 Tests for Australia between 2008 and 2013, but had his contract torn up following a number of misdemeanours and headed for France.
Garry Edwards
Guest
I said it years ago: he aint worth his salt and now it's underscored.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
I would pick him, he has talent, just needs to be put into line with huge financing penalties if he breaks the rules. If an Aust SR team were cleaver, they would pick him now, as he will be desperate.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
You should write a poem about it.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
He will get picked up by another Top 14 club if Toulon sack him.
piru
Roar Rookie
Agreed, sadly I think you're right with regards to the people he surrounds himself with. It really sounds like he needs a mature mentor that he respects to tell him 'that's not on'. Unfortunately he seems to gravitate towards ratbag types. Don't get me wrong, I respect Williams as much as any Kiwi, but he's more the dodgy / naughty uncle that gives the kids too much sugar and lets them watch R movies than he is an authority figure. Maybe the Blues could offer him a run, I suspect Tana might be able to sort him out
northerner
Guest
Yeah, I was just trying to say it's not "like" an addiction, it "is" an addiction. Problem is, until he recognizes he's got a problem, he won't do what has to be done to change it. And I don't think anyone can do it for him. Rehab only works for those who know they've got issues and want to address them. It doesn't sound to me like the people around him are helping him to face up to his problems. And that's really a waste.
Rugby Fan
Roar Guru
Paris Hilton was turned away at the airport when she tried to do some promotional work in Japan. Her conviction was also for cocaine possession. Some musicians and actors have been granted visa permission for gigs or promo work (McCartney, Jagger etc) but most remain banned. There's certainly no question of anyone being granted residency and the appropriate work visa, which is what O'Connor would need. As Bfc points out, though, the stance of the Justice Ministry is moot, since Japanese firms won't touch him with a barge pole.
Bakkies
Guest
National service in the past was good for putting discipline in to young men who still don't know the difference between right and wrong.
Bakkies
Guest
He won't get a contract here after what bad influences like Troy Nathan got up to here. On top of that provinces are stacked with back three players and inside centres
Bakkies
Guest
The problem with Williams is that he is starting his coaching career and the LNR are looking at disciplining them as well.
piru
Roar Rookie
I meant treat playing up and his behavoiur in general like an addiction
dontcallmeshirley
Guest
too many white lines he would need to resist
northerner
Guest
It isn't "like" an addiction - it is one. You don't have to be on the white stuff all the time to be an addict. But he has to want to go to rehab - it doesn't work if you don't believe you've got a problem in the first place.
piru
Roar Rookie
If I were JOC's dad, I'd have him back home (in NZ - I believe his dad's a kiwi?) and playing somewhere like Invercargill for a couple for years. Treat all this crap like one big addiction and send him to rehab to get over it
bert
Guest
Agree 100% The ball is actually in play for between 40 and 45 minutes per game. I timed 10 games with a stopwatch last year Also, since half backs became a protected species, they stand at the back of the ruck with their foot on the ball, smiling to Mum on the TV camera, until the ref calls "Use it" What the ref should call is "The ball is out" which means the opposition could come round and bury the 9 if he doesn.t hurry up
John Short
Guest
I think the current rules are ruining the game. 1.Rolling maul should be banned it is blatant offside. 2. Rucks and mauls are a lotto as to who receives a penalty. Go back to the days when the ball on the ground after tackle had to be played with the foot. Clearing out at rucks is dangeroius more so than some of the so called head high tackles.If they were done in general play it would be penalised as tackling the man without the ball. 3. Linesman have too much say . 4. Time should be taken off as soon as ball is out of play. Time wasted by sides wandering up to lineouts and resetting of scrums. Also when kicking for goal time should be taken off from when play ceases until player starts to approach the ball.So called 80 minutes of actual play is a joke the spectator is lucky to get 60 minutes. Rgards John Short
bert
Guest
I reckon an English/ Irish/Welsh club will pick him up. I can't see any future for him in Aus. He's done his dash here
northerner
Guest
26 year old with a long history of problematic behaviour loses yet another job for substance abuse. Not a surprise, but just pretty sad.
puff
Guest
Generally agree, where Ali Williams will look at this altercation as a mere road hump. JOC may be in a very uncomfortable place. One problem child in any franchisers can very quickly become two; therefore senior decision makers and sponsors are not that impulsive when confronted with non-conforming recruits. At 26 JOC is a seasoned professional who continually steps on his crank and as the misdemeanor list expands, the offers tend to diminish. It would require a ho-hum decision to see him playing in OZ in the near future.
taylorman
Guest
Love the JK line...'Nothing good happens after 3am...' Good man :-)