Brendon O'Connor
Brendon Ryan O'Connor is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as flanker for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup. 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. In 2012 O'Connor was a member of the Wider Training Group and made two Super Rugby appearances that season. He was signed for the for the 2013 season. 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. He has also played for the Hawkes Bay Magpies in the ITM Cup. He had previously played for Canterbury in 2010 and 2011.
O'Connor joined English club Leicester Tigers for the 2015-2016 Aviva Premiership season. O'Connor made his debut for Leicester Tigers on 13 November 2015 in the opening match of the European Champions Cup at Welford Road. O'Connor impressed on his debut, winning crucial turnovers, and scoring a try. 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.
On 7 June 2019 O'Connor re-signed for Hawke's Bay, in New Zealand.
O'Connor is qualified to represent England at international level through his grandmother.
