James O'Connor to join Leicester Tigers after turning down Racing 92
James O'Connor, the Crusaders and Australia fly-half, 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 Premiership, O'Connor, who has won 64 caps for Australia across several positions, will arrive at Mattioli Woods Welford Road later in the summer as a direct replacement for the outgoing Handre Pollard.
Telegraph Sport understands that the 34-year-old, who is likely to feature in the Crusaders' Super Rugby semi-final against the Blues on Friday, remains eligible for Wallabies selection for this summer's Lions tour. If selected, he will join up with his Tigers team-mates 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 Road.
The former Sale and London Irish utility back had plenty of interested suitors but ultimately, Leicester won the race for his signature. The Tigers have been desperate to secure a front-line fly-half to replace two-time World Cup-winner Pollard, but O'Connor refused the offer of Racing 92, the club from which 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 fly-half 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 Saturday – last month announced the arrival of 23-year-old 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 Rebels, Reds and Force as well as his current side, the Crusaders. In 2013, O'Connor started every Test as Australia lost the Lions series 2-1.
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