A report claims that the Crusaders will reinforce their ranks by bringing in an experienced Wallabies international.
According to the New Zealand Herald, playmaker James O’Connor is almost certain to sign a contract with the team before the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign begins.
O’Connor left the Reds at the conclusion of the previous Super Rugby season, and he is currently looking for a new club.
The versatile backline player, known as the fly-half, said last month that he would be joining “an overseas club.”
Most thought that would be farther away in Europe or Japan, but it seems like the Crusaders will be his next stop.
New Zealand link
From a personal perspective, it makes sense because O’Connor is a New Zealander and the playwright is a citizen of that country.
After losing Richie Mo’unga the previous season and Fergus Burke to English Premiership team Saracens, the Christchurch-based team is searching for some experience.
The decision was taken to discontinue the David Havili fly-half experiment starting with the upcoming season, leaving young players Rivez Reihana and Taha Kemara competing for the position.
At the Crusaders, Kemara in particular is well regarded, but having someone with O’Connor’s calibre and experience might help him grow.
2008 saw the 34-year-old make his professional debut as a teenager. Later that year, he made his Wallabies debut.
Although he was viewed as Australia’s rugby team’s brightest future prospect, his international career was limited by injuries and off-field scandals.
go to Europe and come back
O’Connor played for the London Irish, Toulon, and Sale Sharks in Europe after leaving the Melbourne Rebels to relocate to the northern hemisphere.
The playmaker joined the Reds in 2019 after returning to Australia, where he performed well enough to be called up for an international recall.
His final Test match, though, was in 2022; he was unable to travel to France for the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
O’Connor played for the Queensland-based team just four more times after the worldwide championship ended, his final game coming in July versus Wales.
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