James O’Connor was enjoying some downtime with his brothers travelling around New Zealand’s south island in a recreational vehicle when his phone lit up.

Fresh from jumping out of a Christchurch local hot spring, the veteran Wallaby was asked by Rob Penney whether he’d be interested in staying around.

O’Connor, ever the ambitious utility back who still craves another go at the British and Irish Lions, jumped at it. At once offers in France and the United States of America sunk to the floor of the warm waters.

“I’m really excited to be joining the Crusaders for the 2025 season and eager to test myself in a new environment,” O’Connor said in a statement released on Friday morning confirming his new one-year deal.

“My whole career I’ve heard so much about the Crusaders culture and innovation. So to experience it first-hand and learn a new way of playing the game is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Penney had spent months considering who he wanted to join him at the Crusaders.

After Fergus Burke chose to follow Richie Mo’unga out, Penney recognised the need to strengthen his playmaking stocks.

Given the age profiles of Taha Kemara, 21, and Rivez Reihana, 24, the experienced coach decided against luring Australians Tane Edmed and Mason Gordon and instead settled on luring 34-year-old O’Connor.

Having helped develop Lawson Creighton, Tom Lynagh and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips at the Reds, Penney decided that the “world-class” O’Connor was the man to help develop his emerging playmakers.

“When we heard he was available, we reached out as we thought we could offer him something new and challenging,” Penney said.

“We have two exciting and talented tens in Rivez and Taha, and James brings a level of maturity that we believe will complement them exceptionally well.

“Having played internationally and in a range of overseas competitions, we’re looking forward to what James can bring to our environment from his 17 seasons of professional football. He’s also a competitor and ambitious, which will ensure there is weekly competition for the ten jersey.”

Whether O’Connor, whose father was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in New Zealand, emerges at the first-choice fly-half remains to be seen.

But one thing for sure is O’Connor wants to add to his 64 Tests and sees next year’s Lions series as the pinnacle.

It’s partly why O’Connor, who previously explored options to join the Chiefs a few years ago, chose to stay in Super Rugby rather than head overseas again.

With Noah Lolesio, Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh failing to convince many they are the answers to lineup against the Lions next July, O’Connor, who missed most of 2024 because of a hamstring issue, could provide Joe Schmidt another option despite being looked past this year.

Perhaps the best general of the lot of them, O’Connor won’t have a shortage of star power alongside him at the Crusaders.

Indeed, with All Blacks Fletcher Newell, Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Ethan Blackadder, David Havili, Sevu Reece and Will Jordan alongside him, O’Connor will be asked to pull the strings and unleash the men outside him.

Should he, Schmidt could well consider calling up the Wallabies veteran for one last hit-and-run job on the Lions, especially given his experience.

At the very least O’Connor’s move across the ditch will provide the Super Rugby competition some more interest.

Although he’s not the first Australian to sign with a New Zealand franchise, he’s the highest profile Wallaby to do so – and his move will provide interest on both sides of the Tasman.

Should he succeed in doing more than just keeping the seat warm for Mo’unga’s expected return in 2026, it could prove the catalyst for a more open-border approach to Super Rugby.