Force confident of retaining O'Connor
Thu, 08 May 2008 11:15
The Western Force are confident of retaining the services of teenage prodigy James O'Connor despite the centre considering a move New Zealand.
It's not clear which franchises in New Zealand are after the talented O'Connor, but after making his debut for the Force at the tender age of 17, the centre is hot property in Australasia.
O'Connor was in the unique position of qualifying to play for all three SANZAR countries through New Zealand-born parents and a South African grandmother.
His father Warren, born in Auckland, and grandfather both played high-level rugby in New Zealand, while great-grandfather played provincial rugby in South Africa.
But that was before O'Connor was picked to represent Australia in the Hong Kong Sevens earlier this year. His appearance in Hong Kong extinguished any hopes of representing the All Blacks or the Springboks in the future.
According to International Rugby Board (IRB) regulations, O'Connor may only play for Australia from now on.
Once a player has played senior 15-man rugby or senior Sevens rugby, he is not eligible to play for another country.
8.2 of the IRB Regulations state:
A Player who has played for the senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the senior National Representative Sevens Team of a Union is not eligible to play for the senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the senior National Representative Sevens Team of another Union.
The Western Force, who snaffled the diminutive playmaker on a one-year contract from under the noses of the Reds and the NRL last year, say they are in the box seat to retain O'Connor's services.
O'Connor has already been compared with teammate Matt Giteau and Australia great Tim Horan.
Former acting Force chief executive Mitch Hardy, who is still dealing with Force's contracting negotiations, confirmed O'Connor has been offered a two year deal to stay in Australia and Perth.
"We have got our best offer on the table at the moment and we were quite encouraged when we looked to retain James," Hardy told AAP.
"It is sitting there waiting for his signature when he is ready. There is no pressure on him at the moment, but with him being in the limelight at the moment, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) are taking an interest.
"He has got to explore all his options, that is the simplicity of it," added Mardy.
O'Connor is in New Zealand this weekend to take on the Hurricanes in Wellington, with his grandfather planning to be a spectator.
Hardy said the relationships O'Connor has built in Perth since moving would be a key factor in his considerations.
"The NZRU were talking to Quade Cooper, and I believe that has stagnated somewhat," Hardy said.
"I guess they are looking at one or the other and the fact of the matter is they were both with the same management group.
"[James] has already established a great group of friends over here in Perth, made some good mates, playing some good rugby and he has got some good coaching.
"Why would he leave beautiful, sunny Perth to go and live in windy Wellington or the south of the South Island?," added Hardy.
O'Connor's agent Anthony Piccone told the Gold Coast Bulletin newspaper negotiations were at a delicate stage - although interest in O'Connor from NRL was unlikely to be reciprocated.
"The money in league probably can't match what he could earn by staying in union," explained Piccone.
"There wouldn't be too many 17-year-olds getting what's been put forward for James," he stated.
It would make sense for O'Connor to stay in Australia in a bid to represent the Wallabies in the future.
