Dumped Wallaby James O’Connor has been living the high life in recent years, but he’ll need to eat some humble pie if he is to continue his rugby career in Australia.
O’Connor’s playing future has been in limbo since being dumped by the Melbourne Rebels in July.
The Force seemed set to snap up the 23-year-old, but negotiations stalled following a recent airport incident in which O’Connor was escorted out of the terminal by Australian Federal Police.
O’Connor’s lucrative Australian Rugby Union contract was torn up shortly after, and he also won’t be offered an ARU top-up for next year.
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie is keen to play a role in rehabilitating O’Connor, while skipper James Horwill says he and his teammates won’t abandon the troubled playmaker.
O’Connor is currently taking time out with his family on the Gold Coast as he maps out the future direction for his career.
It’s understood O’Connor’s preference is to continue his career with the Force, which would allow him to return to the Wallabies’ set-up next year on a match payment scheme.
If he’s after an alternative, time is running out for him to secure an overseas rugby union deal or land a gig with an NRL club.
O’Connor’s manager David Shand refused to comment about those two options when contacted on Monday.
The Force were slightly spooked by the airport incident, but still appear keen to throw O’Connor a lifeline.
O’Connor met the Force’s leadership group last month, and coach Michael Foley is confident the franchise’s strong culture would help O’Connor turn his career – and life – around.
“It needs to me made really clear to everybody that we’re not bringing in James and merely hoping things work out,” Foley said.
“There’s a plan to get the best out of him both on and off the field.
“We’re very keen to work towards the humility side of things and also the generosity of spirit that James displays in some of the other areas of his life, particularly with some of the charities he’s involved in.
“If we can draw on that and create a program which allows him to spend time in that frame of mind, you start to move people towards more positive ways of seeing themselves.
“But whether James joins us or not, it’s yet to be seen.”
McKenzie urged O’Connor to stay in touch.
“We’ve had some contact. He’s obviously working on his end of things,” McKenzie said ahead of the Wallabies’ Test against the All Blacks in Dunedin this weekend.
“I’ll continue to have contact but contact’s a two-way thing.
“I’m interested in improving him as a person so I’m happy to help in that process.”
Foley is confident of retaining star winger Nick Cummins, who is keen to stay in Perth but is waiting to see what sort of Wallabies’ top-up he is offered before making a final call.