Ko puts coach on upswing
The Chiefs want to set the record straight on James O’Connor: it was the Wallabies star who was chasing them, not the other way around.
A story in the
yesterday suggested the 30-year-old first five-eighth had a tricky call to make thanks to being courted by the Hamilton-based franchise for the 2021 season.
‘‘The opportunity came up to go to the Chiefs and I’m not going to lie, it was something I did think about. I was very interested in it,’’ O’Connor was quoted as saying.
‘‘I thought the best thing for me, personally, for Queensland rugby and Australian rugby, was for me to stay here and to continue to get back and grow my game in Australia and to help the Reds get back to the top of Super Rugby AU.’’
But, even with Aaron Cruden and Tiaan Falcon departing, the Chiefs already had Damian McKenzie, Kaleb Trask, Bryn Gatland and Rivez Reihana on their books, and were never thinking about going searching for another playmaker.
‘‘The facts are that James O’Connor actually chased us,’’ Chiefs chief executive Michael Collins told
‘‘He really wanted to test himself in New Zealand rugby, he had a family connection to the region.
‘‘He’s a world-class back. And we were flattered that he approached us. And we definitely continued those conversations, we were interested in bringing him here. But it didn’t work out.’’
That is because Rugby Australia blocked the move, turning down O’Connor’s request for a release. He would also have been five games short of the 60-test mark for which players can remain eligible for the Wallabies while playing overseas.
It sets the stage for a tasty matchup when the Reds and Chiefs do battle in the trans-Tasman competition next month.
That comes in the third round (May 27-29) – what was originally slated to be the ‘Super Round’ with all fixtures at the one venue, but which now has been left up to teams to agree on their own venues and a revenue-sharing arrangement.
Collins is working with Reds counterpart Dave Hanham to negotiate details, hopeful that they can announce a decision by the end of the week.
The Chiefs surely have some bargaining power up their sleeves if the Reds – who also have the added bonus of hosting the Super Rugby AU final – feel a sense of sympathy.
That is because the Chiefs have already been hit financially after being the only Kiwi side forced to host one of their four Super Rugby Aotearoa games under Covid alert level 2 restrictions, with their season-opener against the Highlanders seeing just 700 people allowed into FMG Stadium Waikato.
Having last year made 12 staff redundant when Covid hit hard, the Chiefs were in the end able to make a very small profit for their August financial year, and have now managed to employ a few more positions. However, Collins said the hit from the Highlanders fixture would be in the ‘‘hundreds of thousands of dollars’’.
Through Sport New Zealand and NZR there is a small fund which will allow the Chiefs to apply to have the cost of that match covered, though it won’t make up for lost revenue from punters through the gates.
Another bumper crowd for their last regular season Kiwi derby, against the Hurricanes on Friday night, could at least help make up some more ground.