James O'Connor heading North

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Just announced that he's taking a break from his ARU contract

Seems to me that he's heading North, or maybe to league?

its_phil

So he's going to Toulon then..

danthefan

Japan maybe.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Know it won't happen but I really wouldn't be that keen to seem him with one of the provinces

thomond2006

its_phil wrote: »

So he's going to Toulon then..

I doubt it. They have enough back three players (even for them!) and if JOC only has an Australian passport they'll be issues with the Kolpak quota.

He'll go to one of Racing, Clermont or Toulouse I reckon. I'm hoping for Toulouse as I reckon Noves could get him disciplined.

Morf

thomond2006 wrote: »

I doubt it. They have enough back three players (even for them!) and if JOC only has an Australian passport they'll be issues with the Kolpak quota.

He'll go to one of Racing, Clermont or Toulouse I reckon. I'm hoping for Toulouse as I reckon Noves could get him disciplined.

Can I quote this back to you with some sort of visual representation of smugness when he signs for Toulon then?

its_phil

thomond2006 wrote: »

I doubt it. They have enough back three players (even for them!) and if JOC only has an Australian passport they'll be issues with the Kolpak quota.

Well it depends if Boudjellal finds spare change down his couch in the next week if you ask me...

The Aussie

Who ever wants him is welcome to him, calling him a liability is a understatement, saying he is a waste of talent and space is the truth.

I would normally wish any player the best with any future endeavours, but Justin Bieber can go waste his life outside chippers at 5.00 am and bore everybody about how he wasted a career while been Uber Cool....

Swiwi.

danthefan wrote: »

Japan maybe.

+1.

Too much hard work to play rugby in Europe.

thomond2006

Morf wrote: »

Can I quote this back to you with some sort of visual representation of smugness when he signs for Toulon then?

Of course you can!

Gerry91

The Aussie wrote: »

Who ever wants him is welcome to him, calling him a liability is a understatement, saying he is a waste of talent and space is the truth.

I would normally wish any player the best with any future endeavours, but Justin Bieber can go waste his life outside chippers at 5.00 am and bore everybody about how he wasted a career while been Uber Cool....

No sympathy for him at all either

Swiwi.

GAGR's view is that he'll have no option but to sign with the Western Force. How the mighty have fallen...

GAGR's view

matthew8

I'd welcome him with open arms at Leinster. Can still be a quality player.

stefan idiot jones

I heard the whisper weeks ago in Brisbane. It seems they're sick of the superstar.

Grimebox

Going from playing outhalf against the Lions to being dropped entirely. What a travesty

stefan idiot jones

The worst thing about it is how genuinely talented he is. He really could be an outstanding player if his ego/attitude could be harnessed in a positive way. The tit.

Grimebox

Does this ever happen in the northern hemisphere?

stefan idiot jones

Orange Henson has his similarities. Talented but a dick with it. Trouble on a plane as well.

19543261

matthew8 wrote: »

I'd welcome him with open arms at Leinster. Can still be a quality player.

agreed. we'd teach the lad a thing or two, I reckon. turn him into something the ozies would be jealous of hehehee

LostArt

matthew8 wrote: »

I'd welcome him with open arms at Leinster. Can still be a quality player.

given his problems, this could only end well..

The Aussie

Grimebox wrote: »

Does this ever happen in the northern hemisphere?

Danny "I like being outside Chippers at 5.00 am as well " Cipriani.

brandon_flowers

Gavin Henson.

Moving to the Western Force would be a disaster also, Perth has a terrible reputation for sports stars destroying themselves, granted that is mainly in the AFL but O'Connor would the first big celebrity-ish type to play for the Force.

The Aussie

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Gavin Henson.

Moving to the Western Force would be a disaster also, Perth has a terrible reputation for sports stars destroying themselves, granted that is mainly in the AFL but O'Connor would the first big celebrity-ish type to play for the Force.

He has played for the Western Force already from 2008-2011.

who_me

Grimebox wrote: »

Does this ever happen in the northern hemisphere?

Yes, the only difference being the player's career goes down the drain in a counter-clockwise motion.

Swiwi.

who_me wrote: »

Yes, the only difference being the player's career goes down the drain in a counter-clockwise motion.

Class!

Robbo

who_me wrote: »

Yes, the only difference being the player's career goes down the drain in a counter-clockwise motion.

Could the Australian embassy not work out some kind of system for that?

molloyjh

Swiwi. wrote: »

GAGR's view is that he'll have no option but to sign with the Western Force. How the mighty have fallen...

GAGR's view

It seems that even Force are wary of signing him and seem to suggest he should take some time away from rugby altogether....

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/james-oconnor-agrees-early-release-from-australia-contract-after-latest-indiscretion-saw-him-thrown-out-of-perth-airport-8855583.html

P_1

Grimebox wrote: »

Does this ever happen in the northern hemisphere?

Henson and Cipriani spring to mind

wp_rathead

christ I am immature, spent 5 mins laughing at the title of this thread..

thomond2006

its_phil wrote: »

So he's going to Toulon then..

Looks like it!

http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2013-2014/transferts-top-14-toulon-james-o-connor-signe-pour-un-an_sto4124393/story.shtml

Boudjellal has announced it but I won't believe it until I see it on their website!

justsomebloke

thomond2006 wrote: »

Looks like it!

http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2013-2014/transferts-top-14-toulon-james-o-connor-signe-pour-un-an_sto4124393/story.shtml

Boudjellal has announced it but I won't believe it until I see it on their website!

one year deal while they wait on sexton then

thomond2006

justsomebloke wrote: »

one year deal while they wait on sexton then

Possibly, but I'd say JOC has worked out an agreement with McKenzie/ARU that he will return to an Australian franchise after the World Cup in order to make himself eligible for 2015.

GiftofGab

This guy needs to be playing in a world cup. Sensational talent regardless of his ego.

Used to watch him week in week out playing for Rebels while I lived in Melbourne. You could see that he was a step above the rest (except for higgenbottom) but hated by the rest of the team. Rebels actually played better aas a team without him. He needs to sort his sh1t out. Hope it works out for him, i would love to see him on the international stage again.

thomond2006

On the website now: http://www.rctoulon.com/fr/news/article/oconnor-sengage-avec-le-rct/

No contract length has been specified, it only says he "will wear the Toulon colours next season".