James O'Connor Released by Wallabies! What Is It with These Aussie Bad Boys?

In sensational news today, now-former Wallaby James O'Connor has been released by the Australian Rugby Union.

It is quite an unbelievable turnaround for O'Connor who was once regarded as Australian rugby's brightest stars, having started out at the Western Force and moved to the Melbourne Rebels in a big money move with Kurtley Beale.

Hero to zero in 4 months

Indeed, O'Connor was Robbie Deans' first choice at first five ahead of his mate, Quade Cooper during the British & Irish Lions series - a move that badly backfired as the Lions ultimately thrashed the Wallabies, and O'Connor's form for the rest of the season has not been impressive either.

This news that the ARU have torn up his contract is a huge blow for a player once dubbed as Australia's next best thing and will be a huge financial blow.

While O'Connor is still eligible for the Wallabies as long as he stays in Australia for the Super Rugby season - only his former team, the Western Force is keen on him, having already been released by the Rebels earlier this year - it is definitely quite a huge fall from grace.

Cooper, O'Connor and Beale - Australian rugby's bad boys

So what now for James O'Connor? O'Connor is no doubt a wonderfully talented rugby player who has had his off-field problems - not really helped by the company he maintains with fellow bad-boys Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale who have really read the rugby league bad boys book authored by Todd Carney and Greg Bird.

Greg Bird and Todd Carney - league's bad boys

His discipline has been a talking point with pictures of O'Connor at a fast food outlet just hours before a British & Irish Lions test and him missing meetings and training sessions for the Wallabies.

Perhaps, this is the wake up call that James O'Connor needed to get his career back on track and as we've seen with the likes of Australia's other bad boys, Todd Carney and Shane Warne.

But what is it with Australia and these bad boy athletes? Is it the culture of idolizing its athletes and heaping so much pressure on them, as well as the wonderful lifestyle and money and benefits that forms a dangerous cocktail for these athletes who are just fresh out of school yet are billed as the next best thing since sliced bread?

Another Aussie bad boy

Perhaps, New Zealand's prevalent tall poppy syndrome is a blessing in disguise as it means most of our athletes are quite grounded individuals with the odd exceptions. This is definitely in contrast to our neighbours, the United Kingdom where Premier League and Championship footballers are treated like Gods, although not quite up there with the USA where the likes of professional basketballers and footballers have actually been charged with murder, e.g. Aaron Hernandez, OJ Simpson.

Anyway, if all else fails, James O'Connor could always consider a lucrative career as a Justin Bieber lookalike in America - that'll probably earn him more money than he could have had contracted to the ARU.

Lookey-likey

Anyway, here's a picture gallery of rugby's other bad bad boys.