JUST BECAUSE YOU don’t get called into the provincial set-up doesn’t mean your professional career is over as a rugby player. More and more young players are travelling to the southern hemisphere to continue their rugby careers – and with some success too.
Peter Reilly and Stephen Macauley, who were prospects at Connacht, now play for Waimate RFC and this morning, former Cashel and Shannon back row Cian O’Connor came of the bench for Perth Spirit in the inaugural final of the NRC, Australia’s answer to the Currie and ITM Cups.
O’Connor is the captain of his University of Western Australia side and played 20 minutes in Perth’s 37-26 losing effort to Brisbane City.
He was up against some quality opposition too, with the Brisbane back row containing Jake Schatz and Liam Gill, two regulars in Super Rugby with the Queensland Reds. Playing at fullback for Perth was Dane Haylett-Petty, who was impressive during his spell at Biarritz.
Perth Spirit are a feeder club to the Western Force Super Rugby team so a few more good performances from O’Connor could put him on coach Michael Foley’s radar.
