Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'I felt like I wasn't quite done': James O'Connor explains his New Zealand roots and Crusaders move

James O'Connor in action for the Reds. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Wallabies veteran James O’Connor said that his decision to take a deal with the Crusaders was to prove that he still has more to offer at the highest level.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 34-year-old will compete with young 10s Rivez Reihana and Taha Kemara for the starting first five-eighth role as the Crusaders look to bounce back from a disappointing 2024. After the departures of Richie Mo’unga and Fergus Burke over back-to-back seasons, the Crusaders No.10 job is wide open.

For O’Connor, returning to New Zealand brings back childhood memories where he grew up briefly in West Auckland with his Kiwi parents.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to play for the Crusaders like I have,” O’Connor told media on Wednesday. 

“Because even from so, I spent six years in New Zealand from the age of five, both my parents were born in New Zealand in the North Island, Rotorua and Cambridge.

“So when I was five years old, we moved to West Auckland. I played quite a bit of footy there, I used to watch Super Rugby, and see Crusaders dominated back then, as well as the Blues. I was a big Carlos Spencer fan.

“I did love Merhts [Andrew Mehrtens], but probably [Aaron] Mauger more. I loved watching Aaron play. 

ADVERTISEMENT

When the the opportunity came, it was sort of just that time my life where I can either settle and go overseas and into another, I guess, not a tier two competition, but a competition where I could just, you know, play a couple years and sort of fade out, move into coaching, or I could have one more swing.

I felt like I wasn’t quite done. So coming here it took a bit of courage to put myself out there, but I’m very glad that I did.”

O’Connor brings 15 years of professional experience with him, having had time with the Western Force, Melbourne Rebels and two separate stints at the Queensland Reds. At Test level he has had 64 caps with the Wallabies.

The Crusaders environment has already made an impression on O’Connor even without the big names in pre-season training, and is looking forward to the attacking style of rugby.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I knew it was going to be quick, and I knew, obviously, with the success of Crusaders had, they run a tight program,” he said.

“But I’m feeling on the training field, I can see the intensity like already without the New Zealand ‘A’ and the All Black guys there, those 15-on-15s are fast. It’s fast rugby. It’s intense, it’s flat, it’s at the line.”

 

 

Top 100

Rugby’s best of the best, ranked by experts. Check out our list of the Top 100 Men's Rugby Players and let us know what you think! 



ADVERTISEMENT

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

4 Comments
S
SadersMan 159 days ago

Finding a space in the changing shed to park his blimmin' walking frame could be a problem.

O
OJohn 159 days ago

He's a fabulous 13, which is why the Kiwi coaches he has had to put up with in Australia, like Deans and Thorn have avoided playing him there. He would have run rings around Conrad Smith.

J
JW 159 days ago

Could be a really good 23 option. I think if he doesn't try too much he could easily be a really good orchestrator for the team too. Rivez was pretty handy last year though, and only seemed to have got better during the NPC, so no doubt he'll hand find a chance to nail down a spot.

H
Head high tackle 159 days ago

All the best JOC. I didnt understand why RA blocked you when you wanted to go to the Chiefs but you finally get a role in NZ SR.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 6 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Leinster player ratings vs Glasgow Warriors | 2024/25 URC Leinster player ratings vs Glasgow Warriors | 2024/25 URC
Search