Toulon president expects James O’Connor back at the club after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, according to French reports.
Queensland Reds say James O’Connor will honour his Super Rugby contract beyond the 2015 Rugby World Cup, despite conflicting French reports.
Just days after the Reds announced the signing of O’Connor on a two-year deal starting in 2015, French newspapers claimed the 24-year-old would return to Top 14 club Toulon after the World Cup – just six months into this new Reds deal.
They reported O’Connor would leave Australia after the World Cup to honour a clause in a signed three-year contract with the French glamour club.
But Reds chief executive Jim Carmichael said he couldn’t see a reason why O’Connor wouldn’t be at the Super Rugby club for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
“In the interest of all parties, I’m not going to discuss the detail of any players’ contract,” he said.
“However, I’m completely satisfied that the agreement we have set is in the best interests of the QRU, the Reds, Australian Rugby and James O’Connor.
“My priority now is to give James the best opportunity to achieve our agreed objectives when he joins the Reds, so I hope that this is the last time I will need to clarify our position.”
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal told www.rugbyrama.fr that he expected O’Connor to return for two more seasons after the World Cup.
“We always said James O’Connor had signed for three years at Toulon with a possible six months absence during the season to be able to play in the World Cup,” he said.
“So we respect what has been signed, he is committed for two years after the Cup.”
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