Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Leicester could be set for James O'Connor tug-of-war

Leicester's back-up 10, Jamie Shillcock, is off to Brive this summer, and Billy Searle has been signed as his replacement. The deal hasn't been confirmed by the club yet but it is believed to be done. 

Leicester Tigers could face more transfer market heartache with Racing 92 weighing up a move for former Wallaby playmaker James O’Connor, as their search for a new fly-half could take yet another turn for the worse.

ADVERTISEMENT

Former London Irish and Sale Sharks player O’Connor has emerged as a strong target for the Tigers, who need to replace Springbok World Cup-winning star Handre Pollard, who is returning to the Bulls this summer.

The Tigers are growing increasingly desperate to sign a top-class fly-half and have targeted several players, including Owen Farrell, but have seen them either sign new contracts with their current clubs or move elsewhere.

O’Connor, who will be 35 next month, has spent the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the Crusaders in New Zealand after leaving the Queensland Reds in October 2024 when he rejected a new contract.

He has rolled back the years with some eye-catching performances, and there has been talk about a potential Test recall this summer to face the Lions. New Tigers boss Geoff Parling is keen to bring him to Welford Road.

But he appears on a list of potential recruits for Racing, who could be left with only one recognised fly-half this summer if Owen Farrell returns to Saracens, with Dan Lancaster set for Glasgow and Tristan Tedder moving to Perpignan.

It would leave Antoine Gibert as the only experienced outside half at the Paris outfit, and they, like Leicester, want to attract a top-class name to the club, but know they are running out of options this late in the transfer market.

ADVERTISEMENT

O’Connor is no stranger to playing in France. After leaving the Exiles in 2014, he moved to Toulon, where he scored 13 tries in 51 appearances, including in the 2017 Top 14 final defeat to Clermont Auvergne.

Racing have also noted that Lyon’s former Ireland star, Paddy Jackson, who has been linked with Newcastle Falcons and the Tigers, is also available this summer, and they would consider a move if they miss out on other targets.

Leicester’s back-up 10, Jamie Shillcock, is off to Brive this summer, and Billy Searle has been signed as his replacement. The deal hasn’t been confirmed by the club yet, but it is believed to be done.

Related

Download the RugbyPass app now!

News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!

ADVERTISEMENT

KOKO Show | July 8th | Bernard Foley stops by to talk the Wallabies winning and Lions being tested

England v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Georgia vs Ireland | Men’s International | Full Match Replay

Lions Share | Episode 2

Chile vs Romania | Men’s International | Full Match Replay

USA vs Belgium | Men’s International | Full Match Replay

Touchdown in Dublin, The Red Sea Returns & We Prepare to Face Argentina | Ep 2: The Ultimate Test

South Africa v British & Irish Lions | 2009 | Second Test | The Vaults

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Soliloquin 1 hour ago
Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

I doubt that.

The Junior Springboks, as well as the English youngters last year, seem to be a level above.

The back 3 is phenomenal, really outstanding with Pead, and the rest of the team seems very solid on the fundamentals.

And it’s not like they haven’t been tested at a higher level: they played the 6 Nations second team and they’ve won it with a good margin, while England struggled to defeat Australia, smashed by SA 10 days back.

Of course, it can all be relative as usually in sports, especially in rugby.


U20 France seems more balanced than last year, but they lack the experience of a few Top14 seasoned players like Reus or Castro-Ferreira.

On the other hand, they’re probably more fresh.

The issue seems to be the same as last year - less talent than the 2003 team, less leaders and less experience. The defense is more frail, but yesterday, they might have wanted the Argentinians to get the bonus point in order to have the Red Roses out of the competition.


And yet, they’re still a very good team, that can score from anywhere.

They’ve lost a few key players to injuries like Akrab (crown player of the U20 Nations) or Leveque yesterday, I hope it’s not too serious, with other guys out of the tournament in the previous games.

Against NZ, I think they can go past. But against SA, I can’t see them containing the supertalents from behind.


Last year, the English pack was out of this earth, with a very solid backline. And in the atrocious weather conditions of the final, they marched on the French pack with their sheer power, with no options for the creative players in the back to express themselves.

We’ll see this year!


But honestly, for now, the Junior Springboks seem to be the very exciting and deserving team they’re displaying in the competition.

276 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING All Blacks will thrash France on Saturday All Blacks will thrash France on Saturday
Search