Rugby World Cup 2019: James O’Connor could replace Israel Folau in Australia squad after returning home

Former Wallabies international has not played for his country since 2015 after he was overlooked for the 2015 Rugby World Cup

Tuesday 02 July 2019 11:40 BST

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Sacked Australian rugby player Israel Folau launches fundraising campaign to pay for legal costs

Former Australia fly-half James O'Connor has signed a long-term deal with Super Rugby side Queensland Reds and will be included in the Wallabies' Rugby Championship squad, local media reported on Tuesday.

O'Connor, who played the last of his 44 tests six years ago against Argentina, would join the Reds in the 2020 season on a minimum three-year deal, local broadcaster Fox Sports reported.

The Reds did not provide immediate comment when contacted.

O'Connor made his Wallabies debut as an 18-year-old against Italy in 2008 but his international career was cut short in 2013 after a string of off-field incidents.

The Gold Coast-born 28-year-old last featured in Australian rugby in 2015 when he returned to the Reds in a bid to be selected for the World Cup in England and Wales that year.

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

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1/24Six Nations Team of the Tournament

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

Click through the gallery to see who makes Jack de Menezes' Team of the Six Nations.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

15. Liam Williams (Wales)

Has claims for the player of the tournament award after a brilliant two months. Shone in the absence of Leigh Halfpenny and handled the England kicking game with ease in Cardiff. Should have scored against France but offered so much more than tries to Wales’ Grand Slam cause and is among the very best aerial footballers.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

14. Josh Adams (Wales)

Early in his international career but has given Warren Gatland a serious selection headache if and when Halfpenny returns, as Adams deserves to be in the starting XV on this form. Tries in three consecutive matches against Italy, England and Scotland, including a moment against the Red Rose that will live long in the memory.

PA

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

13. Henry Slade (England)

A breakthrough tournament for the versatile centre who finally looks to have found his place in the No 13 shirt. Glides across the field with the ball in hand and his two tries against Ireland helped England banish their Dublin hoodoo. One of the most naturally gifted players of his generation.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

12. Hadleigh Parkes (Wales)

Has slotted in seamlessly into the Welsh midfield and saved his biggest impact for the Grand Slam-clinching finale – not just by scoring the first try immediately but also for his try-saving recovery tackle on Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale. Manu Tuilagi certainly impressed with five consecutive appearances and a demolition job on France and Italy, but he could not match Parkes’ defensive reliability.

Action Images via Reuters

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

11. Jonny May (England)

The tournament’s top scorer brings fans to their feet whenever he receives the ball in space. Only failed to score a try in one of his five matches and bagged rapid 29-minute hat-trick against France. His relationship with Elliot Daly has been a joy to watch.

AP

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

10. Finn Russell (Scotland)

Alongside Beauden Barrett as the most potent attacking threats at 10 in the world. The way he brought Scotland back into the match against England was breath-taking to watch, and he also impressed in the defeat against Wales. Missed the game against France with concussion, but you can see why Racing 92 offered him the chance to make it big in the Top 14.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

9. Ben Youngs (England)

The most consistent option at 9 as he became England’s most-capped scrum-half with his 85th appearance on the final weekend. Significantly improved his kicking game for the tournament and will head to the World Cup as the unrivalled No 1.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

1. Rob Evans (Wales)

Decimated Tadhg Furlong on the scrum as Wales worked out the Irish pack at the set-piece, and he stood up brilliantly in his other big tests against Kyle Sinckler and WP Nel. Mako Vunipola had early claims to the spot but only played one-and-a-half games, whereas Evans is in the most sustained form of his career.

PA

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

2. Jamie George (England)

Makes playing rugby look enjoyable as he does it with a smile on his face – especially when he bagged his try against Italy. Mr Reliable at the lineout throughout the tournament and probably the most mobile hooker in the Six Nations.

PA

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

3. Kyle Sinckler (England)

Took a lot of unfair criticism following the Wales defeat and continues to serve an education that will do him only good moving beyond this championship. Looks for work in the back line and possesses the handling ability to warrant his roaming role.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

4. George Kruis (England)

Really stepped up his game in the absence of Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes and deserves a lot of plaudits for how he ran the lineout in Dublin. Scored a try as well as set one up for Brad Shields with charge-downs against Italy and can be proud of what he offered the tournament.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

A leader by example and the undoubted man of the series. Knew exactly how to get into England and put them under pressure in ways they couldn’t cope, and his sheer defiance to let what looked a bad knee injury forced him off against Ireland was inspiring. Deserved to lift the trophy off a Grand Slam, and he revelled in the moment when it finally came.

AP

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

6. Josh Navidi (Wales)

If Jones was the player of the series, then Navidi was the breakthrough star of the campaign. Looked at home in the No 6 shirt despite his preference to be on the openside and even got a run out at No 8 against Italy, ensuring he was one of few players to play in every match. His work-rate around the breakdown and in defence was extraordinary.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

7. Tom Curry (England)

Looks like the answer to England’s openside flanker search, and at just 20 years old, he could well be a long-term option at that. Picked up the first two tries of his international career against Wales and Scotland, and it was that display in a losing effort in Cardiff that really stood out.

AFP/Getty Images

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

8. Billy Vunipola (England)

By no means did he set the world on fire, but he was the outstanding No 8 of the championship by quite some distance. Having missed the bulk of the last two tournaments with injury, it was a welcome sight to see the powerhouse back-row out there.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

16. Ken Owens (Wales)

Brilliant in the loose and would have challenged for the starting shirt if his lineout didn’t falter too often.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

17. Mako Vunipola (England)

Could have been the player of the Six Nations had his tournament not ended in the second round.

REUTERS

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

18. Tomas Francis (Wales)

Has well and truly usurped Samson Lee as Wales’ first-choice tighthead prop and enjoyed a very impressive campaign.

REUTERS

Six Nations Team of the Tournament

19. Cory Hill (Wales)

Injury cruelly ended his participation after the halfway stage, but his impact in the victory over England cannot be ignored.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

20. Justin Tipuric (Wales)

Unlucky to miss out on the starting back-row and was at his disruptive best to plot the English downfall in Cardiff.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

21. Antoine Dupont (France)

Brought life to a dying French side and looks like a real player to watch for the future.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

22. Gareth Anscombe (Wales)

Answered his critics in style after Warren Gatland put his faith in him. Twenty-point haul as Wales secured the Slam was the perfect reward.

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Six Nations Team of the Tournament

23. Manu Tuilagi (England)

How delightful was it to see him back in the England shirt and running at full tilt? Two tries against Italy and a destructive display in Dublin were reminders of why England have missed him so much.

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But after a season blighted by injury and poor form, O'Connor was overlooked for the Wallabies squad and headed back to Europe.

While at Toulon in 2017, O'Connor was arrested for cocaine possession during a night out in Paris with former All Black Ali Williams and the French side declined to extend his contract.

He has stayed out of trouble since joining English club Sale Sharks later that year, and the sacking of full-back Israel Folau has left Cheika with a vacancy in his Wallabies backline.

Former Wallabies team mate Will Genia welcomed the prospect of O'Connor returning to Australian rugby, despite his record of indiscipline off the field.

"What people tend to do is typecast him as the arrogant kid who did this and that and judgement is clouded on who he might be now as a person," Genia told local media.

James O'Connor is set to return to Australia in a bid to play at the Rugby World Cup (Getty)

"While he was young he got away with a lot because of pure talent but at the point where he was judged disruptive to the team, it was decided he was not wanted.

"If the research is done and he has matured, as the indications are, why wouldn't you bring back someone as good as he is, whether it's into the Reds or the Wallabies set-up?"

Reuters

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