James O’Connor released by Queensland Reds on welfare grounds

THE turbulent Test career of James O’Connor is all but over after he was released by the Reds on welfare grounds, leaving him free to reignite his career in France.

James O'Connor of the Reds during the Super Rugby match between the Queensland Reds and the Sharks. Pic Darren England.

JAMES O’Connor’s exit from the Queensland Reds on welfare grounds is an unhappy knot of personal matters, not clicking with coach Richard Graham’s losing program, dashed World Cup ambitions and pressure.

It is almost certainly the end of his turbulent Test career at just 25 but he has eight years to prove us all wrong because Matt Giteau is excelling at the World Cup as a wily veteran of 33 after special deeds for French club Toulon.

It will surprise no one if O’Connor returns to Toulon post-World Cup where he will join Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell and Giteau once he heals from last month’s knee ligament and ankle surgeries.

“I came to the Reds with the intention of playing my best football in my home state and looking for a fresh start but I’ve struggled with some personal matters.

James O'Connor

A source on Tuesday revealed there was no dark reason to former Wallaby O’Connor wanting out when life at the Reds just hadn’t clicked.

“James’s new maturity was making the Reds aware of this months ago rather than staying in a situation that wasn’t working which might have resulted in a blowout,” the source said.

Yesterday’s split by the Reds and O’Connor with a season left on his two-year deal is a sad end after his arrival was trumpeted with such fanfare.

James O'Connor missed selection in the Wallabies’ World Cup squad. Picture: Darren England.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Queensland Rugby Union indicated the Rugby Union Players’ Association and Australian Rugby Union were aware of “personal matters” since May that evolved into O’Connor’s release from his contract yesterday.

There is no suggestion of any off-field incident because O’Connor admirably kept his nose clean during his tryless 12-game stint for the misfiring Reds which was hindered by injuries and form.

RUPA chief executive Ross Xenos suggested there were off-field issues that O’Connor struggled with.

“James’ willingness to be proactive and speak to the Reds and RUPA regarding matters that too often are suppressed until it is too late are testament to his development and maturing,” Xenos said in the QRU statement.

James has experienced a difficult time personally since returning to Australia and we’ve been aware of that for some time.

Jim Carmichael

Because O’Connor has only played 44 Tests, he falls short of the 60-Test minimum required to be eligible for Wallabies selection while playing for a foreign club.

Plenty of judges will see this result as face-saving convenience after sensing O’Connor was only ever on a one-season shot at a World Cup and would head abroad again.

O’Connor was still in Wallabies coach Michael Cheika’s 50-man training squad when the first rumblings of leaving the Reds surfaced.

“I came to the Reds with the intention of playing my best football in my home state and looking for a fresh start but I’ve struggled with some personal matters,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor had a stint in France with Toulon before heading back to the Reds.

“The Reds are a wonderful team and organisation and I’m very disappointed I wasn’t able to achieve my full potential.”

QRU chief executive Jim Carmichael seemed to be making the case that O’Connor found it hard to settle.

“James has experienced a difficult time personally since returning to Australia and we’ve been aware of that for some time,” Carmichael said in the statement.

“It is disappointing that James was not able to reach his full potential with us but after a great deal of thought, we believe it is in his and the Reds’ best interests that we exercise our release clause.

The Reds are a wonderful team and organisation and I’m very disappointed I wasn’t able to achieve my full potential for my home state

James O'Connor

“Therefore, James will return to Europe where he feels the spotlight on him is less intense.”

“We’ve agreed that should James return to Australia, the Reds will have the first and last rights to secure his services.”

The spotlight on O’Connor this season was never more than low voltage although he clearly felt it was intense with his return from France aimed at winning a World Cup spot.

O’Connor has itchy feet. He needs more balance to his life beyond being simply a rugby player and it’s hard to see he will find that in France when Brisbane might have been the place to start with more patience.

Originally published as James O’Connor released by Queensland Reds on welfare grounds