James O'Connor signs with West Harbour in a move that hints at a switch to the NSW Waratahs

WALLABY star James O'Connor has signed a three-year deal with a Sydney club rugby side, heightening speculation over his Super Rugby future.

O?Connor signs with NSW club

WALLABY star James O'Connor has signed a three-year deal with Sydney club rugby side West Harbour Pirates, but it doesn't necessarily mean he'll switch to the Waratahs as well.

The Tahs have denied talking with the off-contract O'Connor about moving to Sydney but in a bizarre twist, the NSW Rugby Union issued a press release this morning heralding the signing coup of the West Harbour club.

Melbourne players are free to play club rugby in Sydney when not required by the Rebels, meaning O'Connor could remain at his current club - but the deal would appear to rule out talk of him joining the Brumbies.

The ACT club insist their players play for local clubs.

The Pirates are celebrating a big coup, although how often they see O'Connor in the black, red and white may be questionable. The youngster has never played club rugby since joining the Western Force as a 17-year-old and is most often tied up with Super Rugby and Wallabies duties all season.

The Concord-based outfit, which also counted Timana Tahu and Lote Tuqiri as clubmen during their rugby stints, secured a deal with O'Connor last week.

"O'Connor, with 37 test caps for the Wallabies, joins Melbourne Rebel teammate, Rory Sidey, at the club and despite interstate-travel challenges and Wallaby commitments, is keen to support the Pirates wherever and whenever possible," the statement said.

O'Connor will do a press conference this evening to talk about his new club.