Don't panic Hawke's Bay rugby fans ... Magpies captain Brendon O'Connor isn't doing a runner.
Since O'Connor's signing with Leicester Tigers was announced on Wednesday we've received several texts suggesting he won't be completing his Magpies contract. However, openside flanker O'Connor, 25, will complete the Super Rugby season with the Blues as well as the ITM Cup season with the Magpies before heading to the United Kingdom.
One of four Magpies captains to lock the Ranfurly Shield away for the summer (All Blacks Kel Tremain, Maurice Brownlie and Alex Kirkpatrick were the others), O'Connor, is eligible to play for England through his grandmother. With at least four players ahead of him in the pecking order for All Black honours, including captain Richie McCaw and his deputy Sam Cane, O'Connor's best chance of international play in future is with the red rose of England rather than the silver fern of New Zealand.
A 2009 world champion with the New Zealand under-20 team in Japan, O'Connor, is a former Crusader who will begin his third season with the Blues when they take on the Chiefs at North Harbour's QBE Stadium tomorrow night. His was one of three international signings announced by the Tigers this week. Zimbabwe-born forward Mike Williams and Tonga No8 Opeti Fonua were the others. The Tigers will be coached by former All Black and Canterbury second five-eighth Aaron Mauger.
Magpies coach Craig Philpott has no doubt O'Connor is good enough to play international rugby.
