Seventeen years after making his Super Rugby debut with the Western Force as a 17-year-old, James O’Connor is in talks to join his former club.
The Roar can reveal O’Connor is in deep conversations about a remarkable move back to the franchise where it all started.
The experienced Wallabies back could still stay at the Queensland Reds, but sources have confirmed there is mutual interest in the prodigal son returning to Perth.
Injured Waratahs playmaker Will Harrison was in the Force’s sights, but the youngster’s latest setback has seen the franchise turn its attention elsewhere.
James O’Connor is weighing up an incredible return to the Force. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
It’s a curious move given O’Connor’s age – 32 – and injury history, but the Force believe his utility value and leadership would also give them some depth and class in the playmaking channels despite the Wallaby sliding down the national pecking order.
The update comes just months after O’Connor said he wanted to stay at the Reds to help the development of rising playmaker Tom Lynagh.
But with a Rugby Australia top-up unlikely and Lynagh quickly finding his feet in Super Rugby, O’Connor has understandably had to reconsider his options.
James O’Connor (Photo by Patrick Hamilton / AFP via Getty Images)
The news comes as Reds back-rower Harry Wilson re-signed with the Reds on a two-year extension.
There had been strong fears that Wilson would head overseas, but the Queensland Rugby Union confirmed the 23-year-old would stay until 2025 on Thursday.
“I love playing for Queensland, this is my home,” Wilson said.
“We’ve got a great group on and off the field at Ballymore and there’s plenty left for us to achieve in the Queensland jersey.
“It’s an exciting time in Australian rugby with a Lions Tour and World Cup coming up. I’m very motivated to be a part of it over the next few years.”
Harry Wilson is staying put at the Reds until the end of the 2025 Super Rugby season. Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Reds general manager Sam Cordingley was naturally delighted the No.8 had decided to remain at the franchise.
“Harry had a fair amount of interest from overseas clubs, so it’s great to have him remain in Queensland Rugby through 2025,” he said.
“I’m sure he’ll be highly motivated to achieve success with both the Reds and Wallabies over the next two seasons.”
His retention is a huge boost for the Reds, with the man with the red headgear considered a future captain.
After bursting onto the scene in 2020, Wilson has had a bumpy past two years.
The No.8 made his Test debut in his first year of professional rugby, but missed the past two spring tours under Dave Rennie with rising Waratahs back-rower Langi Gleeson instead preferred.
Wilson was initially left out of Eddie Jones’ Wallabies training camp earlier this month, but Gleeson’s injury saw the strong ball-carrying back-rower return.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Most of them got nowhere near that. Those who were given plenty of super rugby chances were barely that level (eg Jake McIntyre)
MO
Roar Rookie
Twiggy invests by spending money on things that support his image/persona. I believe he gets a kick out of helping the people he chooses to help in the way he chooses to help them. He has so much money that he has done wonderful things for people but twiggy is not actuallye a generous Bloke relative to his extreme wealth. There’s always a commerciality. If he wanted to he could simply buy rugby Australia put it in a trust and still be able to eke out his living. Twiggy does do great things but he never pays just coz he can.
MO
Roar Rookie
Problem is that isak fines should go overseas. He’s arguably no worse than Tate McDermott. He’s more impactful than the great team man prior and now he’s been supplanted by Gareth Simpson. Surely time to give up on Aussie rugby
MO
Roar Rookie
Pasitoa crapped up his knee at the wrong time. The pasitoa kuenzle combo was looking promising. Jake McIntyre was a possible who hasn’t made top level. Strachan may or may not.
MO
Roar Rookie
Yeah twas but they only had to become as good as foley.
MO
Roar Rookie
There’s a lot of guys who didn’t make it at 10 like jack McGregor Andrew deegan hamish halangu the brumbies and force 12 who was good at aus 20s and zack holmes
James584
Roar Rookie
I hope James O’Conner stays at the Reds. With Thorn gone, it’s a new beginning. Like a rebirth, born again, so to speak, just like Brad!
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yes, I do agree.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Hi BF. Lucas was in the perfect environment to grow as a player. At 10 both Hagerty and JOC while getting good game time at 15 to learn the game of super rugby. Pitty he left.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Hi Scott, one of the reason is coaches just not giving them game time. I know this example I am going to give is old but it stands out at both club and international level. Bernard Foley played a lot of minute for the Tahs so they fair to develop a backup and Cheika did the same with him at international level and fails to build a back up. A lot of Aussie clubs are guilty of this. What we are seeing now at some of our super clubs is the actual development of backups. It takes time and theses players in development need to train with experienced heads like JOC. Not be trained by them… train with them
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
I’d love JOC to get an opportunity to start afresh. He has 12-18 mths to do it before the window closes so why not take a calculated gamble?
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Why would you lose Lynagh or Crighton if you kept JoC? Lynagh is the future for the Reds, having another year where the expectation isn't that he's got to do everything himself is surely a good thing, he will get most the gametime anyway. Crighton is more of a utility, he's not looking (to me) like a first choice 10 and I actually don't think he's really going to ever be good enough to play for the Wallabies, that's not a slight on the bloke but there are currently better and potentially better players in every position he covers. His best career option is to stay at the Reds either way, he won't get more gametime anywhere else in Australia and he's not good enough to be looking at decent O/S offers. Also, both are contracted for at least next year, I think even the year after, so signing JoC for one more, which is what I would offer him, really won't have any effect on those two staying or leaving.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Missed that bit that Heggars is off. Makes sense for him to split. I thought we were always a bit a random choice given he'd been at Tigers. We also have Chase Tiatia. He's on a 2-year deal as I Mataele and Pulu. Kiribige (i have spelled that wrong I am sure) and Spink are key to resign, particularly as we aren't getting any support from RA to bring back a centre (Kerevi, Rona, et al. from Japan or Europe).
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
From a Reds perspective, if JOC stays to mentor then either Lynagh or Chrichton will be lost. If he is so good, let him retire and become a coach
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
A lot depends on what mentoring involves, the Reds would be better off having another skilled player in their squad and employing a former 5/8 to run water and kicking tee and mentor while the game is in progress.
Handles
Roar Guru
so its clear from the article that Hegarty won't stay. But then you do the maths and say Pasitoa is available 65% of the time, JOC 45% of the time, Stewart 90% of the time, and Kuenzle 50%. That means you have a total of 2.5 players for 10, 12 and 15. Need to sign a few more.
Handles
Roar Guru
Yeah, his debut was in 2008. So its seventeen gorilla years.
Riggers
Roar Rookie
I think RA should go another way here and have some sort of allowance for players who have served their time in Australian Rugby and retain them to play with the up and Comers. With RA ready to splash cash at a handful of NRL players, why not inflate a JOC by $150k-$200k? If the Force were to throw in $300k and RA throw in a bit more, it will develop their squad. I would suggest JOC could command $700k in Japan, maybe $600k with Andy Forrest coaching position could seal the deal. Not to mention, he’s 32 not 35 and still has awesome vision and better skill than most. Go the Force
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Odd because he wasn’t really a 10. He was a 15
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It’s possible they just weren’t that good