Contemporary from guiding the Crusaders to a Tremendous Rugby title and nurturing the facet’s subsequent era of playmakers, James O’Connor says he’s eager to proceed his mentoring function after becoming a member of Leicester Tigers.
The 64-Check Wallaby’s arrival will assist ease the blow of dropping double World Cup winner Handre Pollard, who’s heading again to South Africa.
The soon-to-be 35-year-old was pitched to Australia’s 4 Tremendous Rugby franchises, however after not receiving a nibble, departing Wallabies assistant coach Geoff Parling, who was introduced lately as Michael Cheika’s substitute, jumped on the skilled again.
“Leicester are well-known down beneath because the workforce in England that’s wealthy in historical past and workforce tradition,” O’Connor stated.
“Geoff known as me a couple of weeks in the past once I was deciding on my future and it simply felt proper. I’ve performed beneath Geoff within the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and I really feel we see the sport via the same lens.
“As for the enjoying aspect, I’m simply bloody excited to take the sphere and assist in any manner I can. Tigers are a high quality facet, what extra proof do you want than this yr’s ultimate? I’ve been watching intensely from afar and am very excited to fit in and assist the workforce develop in any manner potential.
“For me coming in, it’s not a lot about what I’ll be doing, extra so how can I be essentially the most helpful workforce man to assist us go one higher. Whether or not that’s on the coaching pitch, creating recreation plans off it or if I’m given the keys to steer the ship. No matter my function lands on, I’m simply excited for the brand new expertise.”
The Tigers will probably be O’Connor’s third stint within the English Premiership, having beforehand performed for London Irish and Sale Sharks.
However the matured playmaker stated he returned to England with some unfinished enterprise to take care of after failing to achieve the heights that he wished to within the league.
“I really feel prefer it’s a full circle second,” O’Connor informed the membership web site.
“I’ve been honing my craft for the final six years as a fly-half and have picked up a variety of new data, not solely in Australia but additionally this yr with the Crusaders.
“Now I’m at a spot the place I wish to take a look at myself, step up and ship on the large stage. I’ve performed for 2 groups within the Premiership, however I by no means felt I performed my greatest footy attributable to damage, life selections and simply the place I used to be at as a person. So, this transfer is to rectify this.”
O’Connor will head to England later subsequent month however stays hopeful of that includes within the upcoming Lions collection earlier than then.
His bid to characteristic within the Lions collection gained’t be helped by the very fact Rugby Australia seems prone to look previous him for the AUNZ conflict in opposition to the Lions on July 12 in Adelaide.
It comes regardless of the invitational conflict desperately needing a headline act or two, particularly after the withdrawal of Richie Mo’unga.
O’Connor made a compelling bid to finish his three-year Check hiatus after a robust yr with the Crusaders.
After transferring throughout the ditch, O’Connor proved to be the Ice Man on a number of events for the Crusaders, who bounced again to kind in 2025.
Whereas O’Connor barely featured within the finals collection attributable to Rivez Reihana’s kind, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt stated he strongly thought of drawing on the two-time World Cup member’s expertise for the Lions collection.
