‘Brand O’Connor’: JOC’s one regret as Force return confirmed

It’s the one move in James O’Connor’s career he “would take back”.

Almost two decades after making his debut for the Western Force, O’Connor is returning to the Super Rugby side for one last hurrah.

Fresh from a season with Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership, the 36-year-old has officially put pen to paper after weeks of negotiations to a one-year deal in Perth, speaking exclusively to 9News about his homecoming. Nine.com.au first reported the news in July.

He returns to Perth older and wiser, a far cry from the teenager who began his professional career there. Bursting onto the scene at 17, O’Connor was the youngest Super Rugby player in history at the time.

After four initial years at the Force, O’Connor made a shock defection to the Melbourne Rebels, infamously citing the need to develop “brand O’Connor”.

“That didn’t go down well at all, did it?” O’Connor told 9News about his decision.

“I guess for me again… I’m 21. I’m just regurgitating what’s been told to me.

Read more

JOC set for stunning Super Rugby homecoming in new role

“That brand comment, the brand of rugby player, your brand outside of rugby - this is still early days.

“If I look back on one move in my life, that was the move that I would take back.”

O’Connor admitted that while he was a star Wallaby on the field, his life off the field was spiralling, leading him to seek a fresh start outside of Australia in 2014.

“There was plenty of late nights where... on the turps, and it wasn’t as much enjoying people’s company as it was drowning sorrows,” he explained.

Returning full-circle to the club where he made his career debut, O’Connor is set to step into a mentorship role as one of the senior players in the squad, with an eye toward a future player-coach position.

“I can spot someone pulling from the group. I can spot little things because I was very good at it myself. And that’s part of the reason I want to help in that area is to impart [knowledge], so they don’t have to go through what I did,” O’Connor said.

While coaching is part of his future, the veteran’s immediate focus remains on the pitch. With 68 caps to his name, he still dreams of adding to that tally at next year’s home World Cup.

“Not saying it’s gonna happen, but I’ve seen it. I’ve dreamt it. I’ve felt it, I’ve smelled it, I’ve tasted it. Like last year, I do feel like there is an opportunity there.”

Coy on the exact timeline of his playing career and subsequent retirement, O’Connor is solely focused on giving his all to the Force.

“Possibly is my last year. Might not be, we’ll see,” he said.

“But all I want to know is [that] I’m not saving anything in the tank. This is the sprint home. So let’s see what I got left.”

Force coach Simon Cron was thrilled to finally get his man.

“James and I have spoken for the last three years about a return to the Western Force, but for various reasons the timing never quite aligned, despite a strong mutual desire to make it happen,” Cron said.

“Following our end-of-season review and evaluating our squad structure, the timing is now ideal.

“With our current group of playmakers - notably Ben Donaldson, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, and Alex Harford - James provides an invaluable sounding board.

"Both Harry and Ben actively discussed the benefits of bringing him into the environment, which speaks volumes about our culture of peer-to-peer leadership and driving squad standards.

“On the field, his core strengths - particularly his tactical kicking, vision, and decision-making - will directly complement the talent we already have.”

Watch Wallabies vs Argentina and the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa. Add the Stan Sport package to watch rugby live and on demand with no ad-breaks in play