James O’Connor opens up on South African move that almost happened

James O’Connor did consider a move to South Africa, with reports linking the 64-Test Wallaby to URC outfit the Sharks. But ‘JOC’ has decided to stay put in Australia, revealing some exciting personal news after returning home.

O’Connor has been heavily linked with a surprise move to the Durban-based outfit, following a season with the Leicester Tigers. The backline utility has previously enjoyed overseas stints with another English side, with a France Top 14 powerhouse, and a New Zealand juggernaut.

The now 36-year-old, who debuted for the Western Force and the Wallabies as a teenager with jet blonde hair in the 2000s, made eight starts in 14 appearances for the Leicester Tigers in England’s Premiership and the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Rapport believes Sharks coach JP Pietersen has spoken with O’Connor, and it’s a transfer that very well could’ve happened. But the Aussie is set to become a father to a baby boy, revealing his wife Bridget O’Connor is pregnant.

“I did look at it but that was before the pregnancy,” O’Connor said on a recent episode of Kick Offs and Kick Ons.

“It would’ve been unreal. Obviously did New Zealand. My mum’s parents are South African, my grandad’s from Durban so that would have been a cool experience to do that.

“But as soon as the news came through it was like, I don’t particularly want to be in South Africa, I want to be around my family in Australia.”

O’Connor spent time with the Force, Melbourne Rebels and had two stints with the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby  The playmaker also joined serial champions the Crusaders ahead of the 2025 season, helping the Christchurch-based team win yet another title.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt rewarded O’Connor with higher honours, naming the Test veteran in the squad for the Lions Series. But the Queenslander didn’t return to the Test arena until August 17, when he was named to start against the two-time defending Rugby World Cup winners.

O’Connor slotted in at fly-half and helped orchestrate an unforgettable comeback win over the Springboks in Johannesburg, with the visitors piling on 38 unanswered points as they completed a remarkable effort at Emirates Airline Park.

Schmidt selected O’Connor to take the field another six times that season, before the Wallaby linked up with Leicester. The Wallabies have, at least so far, gone in another direction at fly-half this season – with ACT Brumbies pivot Declan Meredith debuting for the national side.

“I won’t be going back North. The wife, Bridget, is pregnant… we want to stay put in Australia no. I feel like it’s time to plant some roots here,” O’Connor explained.

“There’s always the opportunity to shoot to Japan.

“I want to stay involved in the game of rugby. I do feel like I’ve got another good year left of rugby in me playing-wise but I have ambitions to coach as well so I’m just trying to figure out how I can blend the two.”

The Wallabies have had 10 players slot in at fly-half over the last 12 months or so, starting with Noah Lolesio against Fiji before the Lions Series. Declan Meredith and Jock Campbell are the two most recent additions to that long list.

Schmidt reflected on the “curse of the 10 jersey” ahead of a Nations Championship clash with France in Brisbane this month, where Meredith was named to debut. O’Connor had returned home to Brisbane by then, but the coach didn’t know the Test veteran was in town.

“I caught up with him on Thursday. I literally just popped into the hotel to catch up with the boys and saw Joe,” he revealed.

“But he wasn’t aware that I was back in Australia. Whether that would’ve changed things or not, I’m not sure, but he knows I’m back now.

“I caught up with Kissy as well and had some good conversations with him.

“But I feel like the boys are in a good place, it’s just finishing that game off. It was the same against Ireland, the one that killed us just before half-time.”