From teenage sensation to seasoned international rugby star, James O’Connor has experienced the game at its highest level across three continents. Now, the Karma Ambassador, shares intimate insights into life on and off the field, from French village culture to his evolution as both player and person.
1. You’ve played rugby in Australia, France, and England – give us a favourite food, custom and experience from each country.
- Australia – you can’t go past our breakfast/brunch. After a tough morning session heading to the beach and cooking up some bacon, eggs & avo with our world’s best coffee
- France – an afternoon down by the plage, or an evening in one of the village centres, a magret de canard (duck steak) with fries & a Cotes du Rhone red wine
- England – heading into town and going to the theatre or having a pint on the river Thames and a Sunday roast.
2. You were catapulted into international rugby as a teen sensation – what advice would you now give your 18-year-old self?
Slow down a little. And really enjoy the moment and be where your feet are. Life isn’t about the outcome, it’s the process and journey that is the true nectar.
3. Based on your time with (French club] Toulon, how does French club rugby differ from Australian?
Playing with Toulon was definitely one of my career highlights. The season goes for essentially 10 months, so the connections you make on and off the field run very deep. I loved how much we connected as a group away from the field. Day trips, team lunches and dinners. Away trips to different parts of France. Training is all about preparing you for games whereas in Australia it’s such a quick season, preseason and training is more around getting your body fit and ready to sprint. There are also three different competitions that run through the one season so a lot more time is built around game plans and nailing detail in areas. A highlight was playing in front of packed-out stadiums everywhere we went. There is a very unique tribal element to each team and the support runs deep as the clubs have been around for 50-plus years.
4. What are the big differences between Super Rugby in Australia and the Premiership in England?
Super Rugby is the quickest form of rugby I have played. We are also blessed to be playing in hot, dry conditions so the movement of ball in hand and ability to play from deep in your half makes it a very attack-orientated game. The English premiership is played throughout the show year, so you adapt a lot to conditions. Especially in winter. I found there was a huge emphasis on set pieces and your team’s kicking strategies. Australian teams focus on putting pressure through holding the ball whereas English teams use kicking and territory to force errors on other teams and to control outcomes a lot more.
5. What’s your go-to recovery routine when dealing with long-haul flights?
Moving your body for 10 minutes is really important after a flight as the cabin pressure tends to swell joints and stiffen muscles. So whether it’s a slow jog or some calisthenics work & then a sauna to really increase blood flow around the body, these solutions always serve me well.
6. You’ve been open about your personal growth journey – how has traveling and experiencing different rugby cultures contributed to that?
It really helped me put into perspective what I do and why. It’s a privilege to get to train my body and stay healthy and play the game I love and get paid for it. Travelling has allowed me to see other cultures, learn another language and also learn other ways to play the game. Whilst still remembering it’s a game and something to be enjoyed. When I’m having fun and learning new things, life is always more enjoyable. I’ve found that always trying too hard, pressure and stress for long periods of time aren’t conducive to playing well or living a great life.
7. What is your favourite position to play and why?
My favourite position is 10. You are the mind of the team and your job is to manage everyone else’s energy so that they can perform at their best. Also to move the ball to the right parts of the field and bring your team mates into the game. It’s a position that requires a lot of analytical knowledge of the how and why, but also feeling the flow of the game and knowing when to kick and alleviate your team’s pressure but also when to keep it on to break the opposition.
8. You were nicknamed “Kid Dynamite” early in your career – where did that come from?
I started playing professionally at 17, so not only did I look like a kid, I guess I still was – ha! I used to play purely on instincts and adrenaline so I would literally be exploding here, there and everywhere. I just wanted the ball in my hands and to run and beat defenders.
9. Which overseas teammate has had the biggest influence on your personal approach to your rugby career?
I’ve learnt from so many great players from all parts of the world and learnt how they played the game and then added it to my repertoire. To name just one would be doing a disservice I feel. As I’ve required support in many different aspects of the game and also life over the years whilst I’ve evolved as a player but also a man. The biggest overseas influences on my game would probably be Danny Cipriani, Ma’a Nonu and Jonny Wilkinson. Each taught me very unique perspectives of the game. Some physical skills and other energetic elements.
10. Three top Karma experiences so far?
- End of year rugby trip in 2010 with Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Dane Hayletpetty and a few others. We had a huge villa and it was such an awesome trip to celebrate our year.
- I took a trip to Karma Kandara with my 2 brothers Daniel & Jonathon in 2015. First time we had all gone away together, so many awesome day trips and just sitting down at the Karma Beach club will be a fond memory of mine for life.
- My wife Bridget and I went on a trip last year together. Was such a great balance. We always feel so welcomed and looked after when we holiday at Karma. They helped me plan a very unique overnight stay in the mountains too. Highlight is always just hanging in our villa and exploring the resorts – they are each in such unique locations. Great food. Great company.
