James O’Connor, the Crusaders and Australia first five-eighths, is expected to join Leicester on a one-year deal after turning down an offer from French big-spenders Racing 92.
In a major coup for the Tigers and the wider English Premiership, O’Connor, who has won 64 caps for Australia across several positions,will arrive at Mattioli Woods Welford Rd later in the summer as a direct replacement for the outgoing Handré Pollard.
Telegraph Sport understands that the 34-year-old, who is likely to feature in the Crusaders’ Super Rugby Pacific home semifinal against the Blues on Friday, remains eligible for Wallabies selection for the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour Downunder in June-July.
If selected, he will join up with his Tigers teammates in August.
Should O’Connor be selected for the tests, he will work with his future club coach, Geoff Parling, who will depart his role as Australia’s forwards coach after the series to take the reins at Welford Rd.
The former Sale and London Irish utility back had plenty of interested suitors but ultimately, Leicester won the race for his signature.
James O’Connor could also play for Australia when the Lions visit this summer. Photo / Getty Images
The Tigers have been desperate to secure a frontline first five-eighths to replace Pollard, the two-time World Cup-winning South African, but O’Connor refused the offer of Racing 92, the club from which England’s Owen Farrell is trying to negotiate an early departure. It is also understood that Saracens held informal talks with the Australian.
Billy Searle, the former Wasps and Worcester first five-eighths who is currently at Agen in the French Pro D2, is also understood to have put pen to paper for a move to the Tigers. The East Midlands club – who will feature in their second Premiership final in four years this weekend – last month announced the arrival of 23-year-old English first five Charlie Titcombe from Scarlets.
O’Connor is one is of rugby’s best-known Australians. Aged 17, he became the youngest-ever Super Rugby debutant before becoming the second-youngest Wallaby a year later.
As well as Sale and London Irish in the Premiership, the utility back has played for the now-defunct Melbourne Rebels, the Queensland Reds and the Western Force as well as his current side, the Crusaders.
In 2013, O’Connor started every test as Australia lost the Lions series 2-1.
