James O’Connor code hop? English Super League clubs offer Wallaby bad boy way out of Toulon

RUGBY league is a real option for James O’Connor, with English Super League clubs approaching the Wallaby bad boy following his arrest in Paris.

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RUGBY league is now a serious option for James O’Connor, with English Super League clubs approaching the Wallaby bad boy following his arrest in Paris.

O’Connor will meet with Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal next week to learn his fate after being arrested while allegedly trying to buy cocaine last weekend with former All Black Ali Williams.

At the meeting with Boudjellal, O’Connor will either be told to go elsewhere, or offered a reduced contract.

O’Connor will then have clarity on his options.

While some other European rugby teams will certainly look at O’Connor, a code switch to league cannot be excluded.

O’Connor has previously been approached by NRL clubs Melbourne Storm and the Bulldogs, although it remains to be seen whether any Australian side would be willing to take a punt now on the 26-year-old.

Even if they did, it’s doubtful he’d be registered for this season after his Toulon contract expires in June because the NRL impose a “fit and proper person” assessment on any new players being signed, and O’Connor’s past indiscretions could incur sanctions.

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English Super League clubs, however, have already held discussions with O’Connor’s camp.

The 44-Test Wallaby grew up playing league and is still young enough to make the switch, although our early tip is if he leaves Toulon he’s more likely to find another European rugby club.

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SCOTT Fardy is set to farewell Canberra and move to Dublin at the end of the year, ruling out a 2019 World Cup tilt.

The veteran Brumbies and Wallabies flanker is deep in negotiations with Irish powerhouse Leinster and is expected to sign a contract soon.

Fardy has been talking with Sale in the English premiership — he clearly has a fondness for cold weather — but the chance to join Leinster was too tempting.

Fardy’s loss is another blow for the Wallabies but at 32, it’s a solid move for him. He’ll get European Cup action and the Pro12 is pumping along nicely as well.

Scott Fardy is close to sealing a contract with Irish powerhouse Leinster.

After returning from Japan in 2012 to give Australian rugby one last shot, Fardy became a late-blooming star for the Brumbies and for the Wallabies. With attention on Pocock and Hooper, Fardy was a mostly unheralded star of the Aussie back row at the 2015 World Cup but he was just as influential in the Wallabies’ charge to the final.

Fardy wasn’t an automatic starter for the Wallabies last year, with Lopeti Timani at no. 8 and Pocock playing blindside.

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THE Brumbies have got better news about their captain Sam Carter though, with the club and the ARU to announce they’ve re-signed the big lock for two more seasons.

After being left out of the Wallabies squad for most of last year, Carter was contemplating a move overseas after being pursued by French and English clubs.

But being appointed co-captain of the Brumbies, and showing some good form early this year, the ARU moved to keep Carter at home. You can bet Stephen Larkham’s endorsement carried plenty of weight for Michael Cheika, who is central in all negotiations.

With Adam Coleman, Rory Arnold, Kane Douglas and Carter now locked away, Will Skelton and Rob Simmons are now left to scrap over one more top-up contract. That may be a moot point, with English club Saracens confident of poaching Skelton.

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DISCUSSIONS are underway among ex-Wallabies and the ARU about a suitable way to commemorate Dan Vickerman this season.

There is a strong desire to use Vickerman’s tragic death to achieve some good, and using rugby’s national profile to raise mental health awareness is a possibility.

Dan Vickerman was farewelled at an emotional service at Sydney University.

Stay tuned on that but in the meantime, people have been invited to contribute to a fund for Vickerman’s wife and sons Joseph and Xavier.

Go to grouptogether.com and search “Vickerman Family Future Fund”.

The Waratahs held a private service in South Africa for Vickerman, with a member of clergy leading prayers.

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MOURAD Boudjellal is always good value. In the middle of an interview with Le Figaro where he discussed James O’Connor’s arrest in Paris and detailed fears of a cocaine culture in French rugby, Boudjellal got onto Ali Williams.

Williams, the ex-All Black who used to play at Toulon, was the man who allegedly bought the gear from a drug dealer outside a nightclub.

“I knew Williams was a good negotiator and it has been confirmed again,” he said.

“At 180 euros for 2.4 grams, he negotiates as well as his contracts.”

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NORTHS enjoyed their victory over Brothers in the Australian club rugby championships last weekend in Brisbane but coach Simon Cron didn’t let the party atmosphere linger at training this week.

Simon Cron didn’t mince his words with his much changed Norths side.

Cron addressed his squad about the possibility of going back to back in the Shute Shield this year, after the Shoremen broke a 41-year-drought to win in 2016.

“I have great confidence but the other day at training I said to the boys “put your hand up if you played in the final last year,”,” Cron told us. “Only 50 per cent of the guys put their hand up. So I said: “None of you guys are going back-to-back because you haven’t won shit”.

“So we have to start again, and go from game-to-game again. We are not the same side. There is no relying on last year.”

Injuries hit Norths hard last year, with many players playing up to 31 games via their finals campaign and then NRC call-ups.

Rivals still see Norths as the favourites this year, though.