Northern | US
34 - 31
FT
36 - 20
FT
21 - 31
FT
45 - 14
FT
19 - 13
FT
36 - 38
FT
28 - 44
FT
31 - 33
FT
26 - 47
FT
21 - 15
FT
40 - 17
FT
38 - 38
FT
43 - 17
FT
31 - 26
FT
17 - 50
FT
32 - 15
FT
54 - 19
FT
27 - 15
FT
33 - 61
FT
WOMENS
46 - 7
FT
41 - 17
FT
45 - 14
FT
38 - 40
FT
59 - 7
FT
59 - 17
FT
28 - 69
FT
WOMENS
26 - 41
FT
27 - 20
FT
31 - 7
FT
33 - 12
FT
WOMENS
15 - 24
FT
26 - 7
FT
27 - 51
FT
17 - 76
FT
35 - 12
FT
24 - 26
FT
Australia

Wallabies fans have their say on James O'Connor's potential return

James OC
Comments
Comment

After the news emerged recently that exiled Australian utility back James O’Connor could make a return before the World Cup this year, fans on social media are keen to see the 28-year-old make his comeback.

ADVERTISEMENT

O’Connor was once the golden boy of Australian rugby, having made his debut at the age of 18. However, his international career ground to a halt in 2013 due to off-field controversies, and since then he has moved to Europe to recover and save his career. 

He has had stints with London Irish, European giants Toulon and is currently with Sale Sharks, but could make a return to Super Rugby to facilitate his selection for the World Cup. 

Under the Giteau Law, O’Connor would not be able to play for Australia whilst playing abroad as he has under 60 caps, 44, meaning he would need to make a move back to his native land. 

The back is part of a contingent of exiled Australians, such as Will Skelton and Scott Fardy, that people are campaigning for to make a return to the national set-up. However, O’Connor looks to be the only player in which that is close to being a reality after these latest rumours. 

Many Australian fans seem to want this move to happen now that he has got his career and life back on track. New South Wales Waratahs fans are particularly keen to see O’Connor in Sydney. 

This is what has been said: 

https://twitter.com/CornelVL/status/1143010503700226048?s=20

ADVERTISEMENT

The firing of Israel Folau threw the Waratah’s season into turmoil in 2019, and could well affect the national team in the Rugby Championship and World Cup. This will force Michael Cheika to rejig his team, meaning Kurtley Beale may play as a fullback now for the Wallabies. 

This would open a space at 12 for O’Connor under Cheika, or he can play 15 himself. Either way, Australian rugby is crying out for a player to fill the void left by Folau and O’Connor could be that man.

In other news – Taniela Tupou

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

1

Gloucester's Ross Byrne linked with URC return but it's not Irish

1
2

Not caving to Richie Mo'unga is a good thing for the All Blacks

101
3

Henry Pollock branded 'clown' for latest antics with South African bruiser

23
4

The best uncapped Irish prospects pushing for summer tour places

11
5

Fissler Confidential: Contract tabled for England star Tommy Freeman

6

Red Roses player ratings v Italy | 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations

6
7

Leinster player ratings vs Lions | 2025/26 URC

7
8

Two Ireland internationals among 11 confirmed Connacht exits

2

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

LONG READ

'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i has the skillset to dominate in the back three, but only if club and country are prepared to abandon the midfield experiment.

13
LONG READ

The best uncapped Irish prospects pushing for summer tour places

With criticism is some quarters about an ageing squad, Andy Farrell has a plethora of young talent to blood onto the Test stage

11
LONG READ

JP Pietersen: 'I always say, if I can do it, anyone can do it. I wasn't the most talented ‘oke’ at 18 or 19.'

The 70-cap Springbok and Sharks head coach reflects on the challenges he's faced and bringing back the glory days to the Sharks

2

Comments on RugbyPass

P
PMcD 17 minutes ago
Wobbling champions Bath suffer new low under Johann van Graan

You will be glad to know they signed Bhatti to replace Van Wyk and they already have Will Stuart to come back, with Sela & Griffin as understudy players, so I think you will find they continue spending up to the limit and not much has changed at the Rec. It’s all part of the managing the demographics of the salary cap within the squad.

4 Go to comments
P
PMcD 20 minutes ago
Wobbling champions Bath suffer new low under Johann van Graan

They had a few days off at the start of last week, so hardly trained, which showed in the performance. I think it’s a bit premature to be calling it a loss of form.

4 Go to comments
u
unknown 33 minutes ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

I think he’d be a great 11 tbf. Then you have a back three of Jorgenson, Wright and Suaalii, with Ikitau being able to play on his natural position of 13

13 Go to comments
S
SP 44 minutes ago
The best uncapped Irish prospects pushing for summer tour places

Mack Hansen wasn't wrong about the media, the doommongers were writing off Farrell and his squad, when actually IRFU player policy post the Lions meant our best players had no club rugby in their legs at the start of the 6N, and funnily enough got better with every game they played after getting hammered by a French side that were match sharp by contrast…

11 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 47 minutes ago
France-bound Johnny Matthews gives parting vow to Glasgow Warriors

“But we’ve got four games to go, all being well, and we’ll make the most of it”

Glasgow had three matches to go in the Champions League “all being well” before the Goliath of the North was downed by “underdogs” Toulon.



...

1 Go to comments
C
Chris929 1 hour ago
'A really exciting option': WRU file PWR expression of interest

We are already seeing evidence the future of the red roses looks less good with the u20 and u18 losing regularly now-not just to france who thrashed us at u18 and u20 level(and have done past few years) but also to the celtic teams.There is no guarantee senior level red roses success will continue indefinitely. We need more playing opportunities for young english players in the PWR-expanding to more english teams like Bath and Newcastle,which should be the priority, would help with that. Yet the RFU in its wisdom seems keen to bring in a welsh team,an irish team and a scottish team- something that would only benefit our rivals not us. They would become defacto national teams playing in the PWR and would only help them grow and develop. We already helping most teams with their squads playing in PWR. But including teams from other countries would be taking it to another level. Focus on english expansion first-bath,newcastle -maybe a team in yorkshire or cornwall

2 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 1 hour ago
'South Africans just hate the Irish': McCloskey on growing 'beef' with Boks

There always are.

29 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 1 hour ago
'South Africans just hate the Irish': McCloskey on growing 'beef' with Boks

It’s mostly flames fanned on the fans behalf, to be fair.

29 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 1 hour ago
New NZR CEO addresses growing Super Rugby Pacific player exodus

That’s true too

24 Go to comments
T
TT. 1 hour ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Agree on Wright, it will be hard to overlook him if he plays at the same level than last year !

Indeed, if Lonergan is not in the team - which I think is probably the best option if they plan to start Carter Gordon - they will definitely need a goalkicker.



...

13 Go to comments
B
BC1812 1 hour ago
'A really exciting option': WRU file PWR expression of interest

It’s all very well for the RFU to finance and develop overseas players in English teams, though I think it need so be scaled back, but enabling international Home Nations teams to play week in, week out is several steps too far and will be to the detriment of the Red Roses.

2 Go to comments
S
SB 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Wright for sure if he can replicate his 2025 test form. Harvey looks like a great prospect though and his goal kicking could be something very valuable to the team, especially with Carter Gordon is in the team and Ryan Lonergan is not.

13 Go to comments
T
TT. 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

And who would pick at 15 ? Tom Wright ? Harvey ?

13 Go to comments
T
TT. 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Due to the League’s influence in our opinion ? Too young to recall that sadly…

Aren’t Paisami and Flook leaving Australia this summer ? Crichton could be the solution to a lot of their problems indeed.



...

13 Go to comments
S
SB 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Him and Marky Mark on the wings at the World Cup, aerial kicks galore. Not sure where that leaves Jorgensen though.

13 Go to comments
u
unknown 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

JAS plays at 13 because the Wallabies already have loads of high quality back three players and basically only two other top quality centres (ikitau and Parisian) one of whom is abroad currently and one of whom is heading to Japan (I’ve heard) - so that’s the area of key lack of depth

13 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Aussie have always had a surfeit of good back three players, more so than centres, even in their best years around 2000-2003… I recall them trying to shoehorn Elton Flatley into 12 for the 2001 Lions series.

They have Paisami, Ikitua and Flook wto work with now, and poss Angus Crichton in future. So I’d ships to 14 or 15 now, with a view to a JAS-Marky-Jordo backfield for the RWC, and poss Lomax in the mix too.



...

13 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Let’s hope so. Hunter Paisami is having a good season at 12 for the Reds, Len Ikitau is top drawer and Josh Flook at a very smart 13, so there is some material to work with there…

13 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

They might start him at 14 and then move him to FB once he gets the hang of the backfield pendulum….

13 Go to comments
S
Stephen11 3 hours ago
Scotland v France | Talking points as France set up Grand Slam decider with England

I agree, which is why I find it strange that they only refer to part of her heritage. Her mom is also half Cook islander so why not mention that as well?

4 Go to comments
Close Panel
Close Panel

Edition & Time Zone

{{current.name}}
Set time zone automatically
{{selectedTimezoneTitle}} (auto)
Choose a different time zone
Close Panel

Editions

Close Panel

Change Time Zone

Search Timezones
Close
ADVERTISEMENT
Copied to clipboard

Share Article close