Super Rugby Pacific: James O’Connor returns to Western Force on one-year contract

Nearly two decades after he first broke through at the club in historic fashion, James O’Connor is back with Western Force.

The Force have confirmed the 69-cap Wallaby has signed a one-year contract for the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season and will pull on the blue jersey for the first time since 2011.

When O’Connor debuted for the club as a 17-year-old in 2008, he became the youngest player in Super Rugby history.

He departed to join the now-defunct Melbourne Rebels four years later and has spent much of his career since in Europe, having most recently lined up for English top-flight side Leicester Tigers.

The 36-year-old said he was “so excited” to be back at the club where he started his top-level career.

“It feels like a full circle moment in my life. Perth and the Force is where it all began for me as a 17-year-old, so this feels almost fated to find myself back here at this stage in my career,” O’Connor said.

“I’ve got a lot of love for Perth as a city. It’s where we want to lay some roots down. We will welcome our first son into the world in a month or so, so it’s a very special time for us.

“The club has strong foundations and has built some solid momentum last season. I’m ready to sink my teeth into it this challenge and really push towards our first-ever finals berth.”

And with next year’s Rugby World Cup taking place in Australia, O’Connor is confident he can use his stint at the Force to push for a place in the Wallabies squad.

“I’m excited to come over and hit the ground running. I feel like my body is primed and my mind is ready,” he said.

“I’ve had a great break now after going two years straight from the Crusaders to Wallabies and then Leicester.

“There’s a lot of good footy still left in me. I want to make the most of possibly my last year.

“It’s an incredible time in Australian rugby right now with the World Cup just around the corner and this is an opportunity for me to go toe to toe with the best in Australia each week.”

Force coach Simon Cron said he had been in discussions with O’Connor over a return to the club “for the last three years”.

“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.

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

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