O’Connor just happy to be back playing rugby

JONNY O’CONNOR has his sights set on the World Cup just a year after his career was thrown into doubt by a serious injury.

The Wasps flanker suffered spinal concussion in the first minute of the 2006 EDF Energy Cup final against the Llanelli Scarlets and spent over six months on the sidelines.

His absence allowed Tom Rees to nail down the Wasps number seven jersey and David Wallace to establish himself as the Ireland open-side.

The battle back was as much mental as it was physical but O’Connor made it and featured for Wasps in the second half of the season.

O’Connor was over-looked for Wasps’ Heineken Cup final squad to face Leicester but is looking forward to getting stuck in today after being released to play against the Canadians at Exeter’s Sandy Park.

“I am looking forward to playing. It gives me a real focus to get a run of games together so hopefully I can get some form going and finish the season happily,” said O’Connor.

“I had a serious injury and nearly had to retire from the game — I don’t think a lot of people realise that — and only got back playing at Christmas.

“I am happy with where I am now compared to this time last year.

“If I had gone on the senior tour to Argentina I might have ended up sitting on the bench, so this way I get to play rugby. You have to look on the bright side.”