Former Wallabies fly-half James O’Connor has officially joined the Crusaders for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season. The 34-year-old veteran has represented Australia in 64 test matches and has accumulated over 120 Super Rugby appearances with teams including the Western Force, Melbourne Rebels, and most recently, the Queensland Reds. Throughout his international career, O’Connor has scored close to 250 points.
As a versatile back, O’Connor will be stepping into the role of fly-half at the Crusaders, working alongside Rivez Reihana and Taha Kemara. The franchise from Canterbury aims for O’Connor to contribute both as a player and a mentor.
“I’m really excited to be joining the Crusaders for the 2025 season and eager to test myself in a new environment,” O’Connor expressed. “Throughout my career, I’ve heard so much about the Crusaders culture and innovation, so experiencing it firsthand and learning a new style of play is something I’m looking forward to.”
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney acknowledged O’Connor as a “world-class and ambitious athlete.” He added, “When we learned he was available, we reached out as we thought we could offer him something fresh and challenging. We have two promising and skilled fly-halves in Rivez and Taha, and James’s maturity is expected to complement them exceptionally well.”
Penney also noted O’Connor’s extensive experience in international play and various overseas competitions. The coach emphasized his anticipation for what O’Connor can bring to the team with his 17 years of professional rugby experience. “He’s a competitor and ambitious, ensuring regular competition for the fly-half position.”
O’Connor is set to join the Crusaders shortly before their first pre-season match, the details of which will be announced later this month.