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James O'Connor has epiphany moment after extreme therapy, wants to make another Wallabies comeback
Ex-Wallabies utility back James O’Connor has opened up to his followers on social media expressing plans for another Wallaby comeback, in time for next year’s World Cup.
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Currently with the Sale Sharks in the English Premiership, O’Connor has been in rehab in Iceland following ankle surgery, where he underwent extreme therapies such as sensory-deprivation exercises, heat exhaustion and deep states of meditation.
The experience has helped O’Connor realise his ultimate desire to “bleed green and gold” again and become “who I must become”.
“Coming to the end of my training camp in Iceland and it has been a humbling and truly enlightening experience,” he posted on Instagram.
“My reaction to each stimulus has forced me to face myself and my darkness in a way that I have never felt before. I now know who I was but more importantly, I now see who I must become.”
He believes he has learnt from his mistakes and is ready to right some wrongs. He last played for Australia in 2013, before his national contract was torn up after an incident at an airport after being intoxicated. He was also let go from Toulon last year after being arrested and fined in Paris for cocaine possession.
“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.”
It will not be the first time O’Connor has made a Wallabies comeback after returning to Australia in 2015 to the Queensland Reds on a two-year option deal. He was not selected for that World Cup campaign and exercised his option to return to Europe to join Toulon.
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With 44 test caps to his name, he is unable to play under the ‘Giteau rule’ exemption for overseas players who have 60 caps. In order to play for the Wallabies again, O’Connor must sign with an Australian Super Rugby club. Whether Rugby Australia will also step in to accommodate O’Connor is another question altogether.
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