Rugby: O'Connor leaves Force for Rebels

James O'Connor. Photo / Getty Images

Australian rugby sensation James O'Connor has quit the Force to join the Melbourne Rebels for the 2012 Super Rugby season.

The Rebels are waiting for the Australian Rugby Union to sign off on the deal before making an announcement on luring one of rugby's hottest prospects to Melbourne.

The 20-year-old utility back will link with good friend and Wallabies teammate Kurtley Beale, who's leaving the NSW Waratahs for the Rebels in 2012.

The star backline duo will dramatically strengthen a Rebels line-up that has struggled this season with the competition newcomers in last position on the Super Rugby table.

The Force announced they had withdrawn from talks with O'Connor's management on Wednesday morning after failing to agree on the length and remuneration of a proposed new deal.

The breakdown came a week after RugbyWA was advised by O'Connor's representatives that he had chosen in principle to sign a new contract with the Force.

"We presented James with extremely generous terms which reflected his talent and standing at the Western Force," said RugbyWA chief executive Vern Reid in a statement.

"We were fully committed to giving James every opportunity to continue his development through the rugby program in Western Australia, however it is clear his final decision has been based on other factors.

"We're still a young club and it is fundamental in our development that everyone is committed to building a cohesive culture that defines a team ethos.

"The terms being imposed by James' management did not correlate with that objective.

"It is with a great deal of regret that we will farewell James.

"However we can be certain that we did everything we could to retain his services and that our offer was fair and reasonable and in the best interests of the Emirates Western Force and rugby in WA."

O'Connor was recruited from Nudgee College in Queensland ahead of the 2008 season and made his first appearance later that year.

He became the youngest player to debut in Super Rugby history, at 17 years of age.

O'Connor has also played 27 Tests for the Wallabies and will be a key member of Robbie Deans' Wallabies squad at the upcoming World Cup in New Zealand.

- AAP