Australia
ARU won't re-contract James O'Connor: Bill Pulver
ESPN Staff
June 19, 2014
Bill Pulver "would love to see James O'Connor back in Australian rugby" © Getty Images
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James O'Connor will not receive an Australian Rugby Union (ARU) contract if he returns home from Europe to press his claim for Wallabies Rugby World Cup selection.

The union cut O'Connor last year after a series of off-field misdemeanours, but he is said to be close to signing with Queensland Reds for the 2015 Super Rugby season.

ARU chief executive Bill Pulver said he would love to see O'Connor back in a gold jumper but the 44-Test backline utility even then wouldn't be considered among the country's top-25 players to receive a top-payment from the governing body.

"I can tell you the ARU is not going to sign a contract with James," Pulver said. "Having said that, I would love to see James back in Australian rugby. I think he's an incredible talent.

"We discontinued the relationship with him a year ago for the right reasons, in my view. That doesn't mean he can't come back with the right attitude to be a wonderful contributor to Australian rugby going forward."

O'Connor will likely need to play two more years for the Wallabies to be eligible for an ARU contract on top of any state deal he may earn.

"We basically only provide top-up agreements to players who played fairly continuously with Australian rugby," Pulver said.

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© AAP

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