Former Wallabies back James O’Connor could be in line for a recall to the national side and a possible place at the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.
A report that featured in The Australian claims that Rugby Australia are lining up a bid to bring O’Connor back to Super Rugby for the end of the 2020 season and beyond.
If they manage to tie him down to such a contract the 28-year-old would then become eligible for selection in the Wallabies team.
It is believed that although head coach Michael Cheika is yet to speak to the 44-cap Aussie, but new director of rugby Scott Johnson has begun making moves that would see O’Connor return to Australia.
O’Connor currently plays for English Premiership outfit Sale Sharks and has been there since 2017, with his contract set to expire at the end of next season.
He moved to Manchester following scandals which saw him removed from an airport for a drunken incident and being arrested in Paris along with former All Black Ali Williams under the suspicion of attempting to buy cocaine in early 2017.
However, despite all of this O’Connor has played on and appears to have turned a corner which has caught Johnson’s eye.
Following a trip to Iceland last year O’Connor made clear his intentions to play for the Wallabies once more and promised he is not the man he previously was.
“I now know who I was but more importantly, I now see who I must become. It is time for me to share my truth. I have a deep desire to play for the Wallabies again. I have learnt from my mistakes and I am now ready. Ready to bleed green and gold. Ready to bleed for my brothers. Ready to bleed for the people. I will be back playing in October and I will have my eye firmly on the World Cup. I will not let myself or anyone down again. Time to shine!” he said on Instagram last September.
O’Connor played for the Queensland Reds before has final appearance in a golden jersey, a 14-13 win against Argentina in 2013. Since then he has represented London Irish, Toulon and Sale.
However, with so many players set to depart Australian shores over the coming months this may be the perfect time for O’Connor to resurrect his Wallabies career.
