Brendon O'Connor
Birth nameBrendon Ryan O'Connor
Date of birth (1989-09-11) 11 September 1989
Place of birthGisborne, New Zealand
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight102 kg (16 st 1 lb)
SchoolGisborne Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Current team Rugby New York
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2011 Canterbury 17 (15)
2012 Crusaders 2 (0)
2013–2015 Hawke's Bay 34 (80)
2013–2015 Blues 42 (5)
2015–2019 Leicester Tigers 73 (55)
2019–2021 Hawke's Bay 25 (25)
2021 Crusaders 1 (5)
2022– Rugby New York 25 (20)
2010– Total 219 (205)
Correct as of 28 June 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 New Zealand U20 5 (0)
Correct as of 13 February 2013

Brendon O'Connor (born 11 September 1989) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who plays as flanker for Rugby New York (Ironworkers) in Major League Rugby (MLR).[1] He previously played for Canterbury and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition[2] and for the Crusaders and Blues in Super Rugby. Between 2015 and 2019 he played for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby.

O'Connor won the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship with New Zealand Under 20.[3] In 2012, O'Connor was a member of the Crusaders Wider Training Group and made two Super Rugby appearances that season. He was signed for the Blues for the 2013 season.[4] O'Connor would go on to win over 40 Super Rugby caps for the Blues, winning the Blues MVP Award and Player's Player award in 2015.[5] He has also played for Hawke's Bay in the ITM Cup. He had previously played for Canterbury in 2010 and 2011.[6]

O'Connor joined English club Leicester Tigers for the 2015-2016 Aviva Premiership season.[7] O'Connor made his debut for Leicester Tigers on 13 November 2015 in the opening match of the European Rugby Champions Cup at Welford Road. O'Connor impressed on his debut, winning crucial turnovers, and scoring a try.[8] On 15 May 2019 he was announced as one of the players to leave Leicester following the end of the 2018–19 Premiership Rugby season.[9]

On 7 June 2019, O'Connor re-signed with Hawke's Bay in New Zealand.[10]

In January 2022, Rugby New York announced that O'Connor would join the club to play in the Major League Rugby competition.[1]

O'Connor is qualified to represent England at international level through his grandmother.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 @RugbyNewYork (11 January 2022). "A loose forward with an incredible CV: [...] and now #BuiltforNewYork. Welcome to New York, Brendon" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 January 2022 – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ "2021 Magpies Squad". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  3. ↑ "Brendon O'Connor JWC 2009 Player Profile". IRB. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Blues sign two young recruits". Stuff NZ. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "Brendon O'Connor Blues Player Profile". Blues. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  6. ↑ "Leicester Tigers Profile – Brendon O'Connor". Leicester Tigers. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Trio of signings added to Tigers squad". Leicester Tigers. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "Brendon O'Connor makes early impact for Leicester against Stade Français". The Guardian. 13 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Brendon O'Connor and Mike Fitzgerald among huge number leaving Leicester Tigers at the end of the season". Leicester Mercury. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "Brendon O'Connor will return to Magpies' nest in Hawke's Bay this season". Hawkes Bay Today. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  11. ↑ "Brendon O'Connor leaving Blues for Tigers". ESPN. 11 February 2015.



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