The Western Force is delighted today to confirm the signing of 69-cap Wallaby James O’Connor for the 2027 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season, marking an incredible “full circle moment”.
O’Connor made his Super Rugby debut with the Force as a 17-year-old back in 2008. At the time, he was the youngest debutant in Super Rugby competition history.
The versatile back played 39 Super Rugby games for the Force, scoring 10 tries, across four seasons from 2008 to 2011. To this day, he is the Club’s second leading points scorer.
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More than 18 years on from his 2008 debut and 15 years after leaving the Club in 2011, the now 36-year-old will be back in Force blue, returning to Super Rugby ranks after one season in England’s Premiership with Leicester Tigers.
The versatile back, who plays primarily at fly-half, boasts an incredible rugby CV, including playing for the Wallabies at two World Cups and earning 74 caps for his country, most recently against Ireland in November.
He won the Super Rugby Pacific title with the Crusaders in 2025 and led the Queensland Reds to the 2021 Super Rugby AU crown as captain.
O’Connor has played 127 Super Rugby games, across stints at the Force (2008-2011), Rebels (2012-2013), Reds (2015, 2019-2024) and Crusaders (2025).
He’s also played overseas in England and France, with London Irish (2013-2024), Toulon (2014-2017), Sale Sharks (2017-2019) and Leicester (2025-2026) bringing a broad range of experience to a storied and unique playing career.
He broke out at the Force as an inside-centre, scoring in his fourth game in a memorable 29-22 come-from-behind win over the ACT Brumbies in the final game of the 2008 season. He became a regular in 2009, winning the Rookie of the Year awards for both the Force and Wallabies in that year.
He regularly assumed Force kicking duties in the 2010 and 2011 seasons, meaning to this day he is the Club’s second leading point scorer with 306, behind only Cameron Shepherd (372).
O’Connor’s rugby career has seen many evolutions since leaving the Force 15 years ago. With that, he brings maturity and experience to an exciting group that finished the 2026 season strongly, but he is full of on-field quality, possessing an elite kicking game and a razor sharp rugby brain.
O’Connor said: “I’m so excited to join the Force. It feels like a full circle moment in my life. Perth and the Force is where it all began for me as a 17-year-old so this feels almost fated to find myself back here at this stage in my career.
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“I’ve got a lot of love for Perth as a city. It’s where we want to lay some roots down. We will welcome our first son into the world in a month or so, so it’s a very special time for us.
“The club has strong foundations and has built some solid momentum this last season. I’m ready to sink my teeth into it this challenge and really push towards our first-ever finals berth.”
O’Connor was bullish he has plenty to offer the Force on the field, keeping an eye on his own ambitions to make the Wallabies squad for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
He said: “I’m excited to come over and hit the ground running. I feel like my body is primed and my mind is ready.
"I’ve had a great break now after going two years straight from the Crusaders to Wallabies and then Leicester. There’s a lot of good footy still left in me. I want to make the most of possibly my last year.
“It’s an incredible time in Australian rugby right now with the World Cup just around the corner and this is an opportunity for me to go toe to toe with the best in Australia each week.
“I’m excited to bring my experience to this group. I’ve played all over the world for two decades. I’ve seen a lot of different programs and a lot of different structures.
“I feel like my strength is creating cohesion and refining systems to work better. Whether that’s finishing a game, reviewing opposition or working with the non-23 to make the starters as competitive as possible.
"I’ve already started working in that coaching and mentoring space over the last three to four years.”
Force head coach Simon Cron welcomed the return of experienced playmaker O’Connor to Perth, concluding discussions that have spanned several seasons.
Cron said: “James and I have spoken for the last three years about a return to the Western Force, but for various reasons the timing never quite aligned, despite a strong mutual desire to make it happen.
“Following our end-of-season review and evaluating our squad structure, the timing is now ideal.
“With our current group of playmakers - notably Ben Donaldson, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, and Alex Harford - James provides an invaluable sounding board.
"Both Harry and Ben actively discussed the benefits of bringing him into the environment, which speaks volumes about our culture of peer-to-peer leadership and driving squad standards.
“On the field, his core strengths - particularly his tactical kicking, vision, and decision-making - will directly complement the talent we already have.”
Beyond the pitch, O’Connor’s return marks a full-circle milestone in his decorated Australian rugby career, offering a unique platform to contribute to the broader sport in Western Australia.
Cron added: “In collaboration with RugbyWA, we see immense value in James serving as an ambassador for rugby in the state during a World Cup year.
"Factoring in his on-field quality, mentorship and broader community impact, this partnership is a win for everyone involved.”
On returning to Perth, O’Connor added: “Perth is where I played my first senior game for the Cottesloe Seagulls. Now we’re laying down roots in the same suburb, so it’s full circle and I’m excited to give back to rugby in WA.
“The Force holds a very special place in my heart. It’s where I got my opportunity. The Sea of Blue is such a great fanbase.
“I want to do as much as I can to bring success to this team. The boys were talking about finals last year and with the squad we have and the momentum built, I feel like that should almost be the first tick on the checklist come end of season."
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James O’Connor
DOB: 5/7/1990
Position: Fly-half, centre, wing, full-back
Place of birth: Southport, QLD
Western Force cap: #47
Height: 181cm
Nickname: Rabbit
Junior club: St Joseph’s College, Nudgee (QLD)
International career history
Australia (69 caps, 2008- )
Club career history
Leicester Tigers (13 caps, 2025-2026)
Crusaders (16 caps, 2025)
Queensland Reds (57 caps, 2019-2024)
Sale Sharks (32 caps, 2017-2019)
Toulon (51 caps, 2014-2017)
Queensland Reds (13 caps, 2015)
London Irish (15 caps, 2013-2014)
Melbourne Rebels (21 caps, 2012-2013)
Western Force (39 caps, 2008-2011)
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