Jonathon Keiran O’Connor
Jonathon Keiran O’Connor
Graduating Class:-1988-1996
Starting as a Number 8 in the early years, then Second Row, ashort stint at Prop and then finishing in the Centres in my final years. My best momeory was 1996 winning the Waratah Sheild Final upon the final whistle (worst moment, losing it 10 minutes later when the ref restarted the game, and they kicked a penalty and ended up taking the title)
Favourite coach (while you were at MCC):To many to name.. and thanks to all of them!
What did playing high school rugby teach you?:It allowed usall to get out of our heads and into our bodies and to strive for a common goal, it taught me about leadership through action, about healthy competition, mateship without status and how winning and succeeding as a team can be exponentially more satisfying than doing something alone. My time playing rugby at Marist remains my most cherished memories and an incredible period of time in my life.
After graduating, Rugby continued to be a big part of my life for many years to come, some highlights below:
- 1997 – Debut for Royals Men’s First Grade
- First Grade Men’s Local Rugby Premiership Grand finalist with Royals
- ACT U/19’s Player in the National U/19 Competition
- ACT U/21 Team Member ACT Kookaburras Colts Debut
- 1998 – Debut for Canberra Kookaburra’s Men’s 1st Grade
- ACT U/19s team member
- Canberra Kookaburras U/20s Team Member and Sydney premiership Winning Team
- ACT Brumby Runners Team Member Versus Japanese National Team
- 1999 -ACT Academy of Sport Scholarship
- Canberra Vikings First Grate Men’s Team Member
- ACT U/21 Team Member
- ACT Brumby Runners Team Member versus Japanese National Team
- ACT Academy of Sport Scholarship
- Australian Rugby Academy /Australian Institute of Sport Scholarship
- 2000 – ACT Brumby Runners Team Member
- Canberra Vikings Fist Grade Men’s Team Member, Semi Finalists
- ACT Brumbies Under 21’s Captain
- Australian U/21s Vice Captain, Tour to NZ
- ACT Men’s Brumbies Debut Versus NSW
- 2001 – ACT Brumby Runners Team Member
- Sydney University First Grade Men’s Premiership Winning Side
- Sydney University Colour for Sports Achievement–Rugby Union
- Sydney University Blue for Sports Achievement–Rugby Union
- Australian University 15 Team Member
- Sydney University First Grade Men’s Premiership, Australian University Captain
- 2003 – Sydney University First Grade Men’s Premiership Winning Side
- Australian University 15 Team Member–Captain
- 2004 – Sydney University First Grade Men’s Premiership Winning Side
- Australian University 15 Team Member–Captain
- Sydney University First Grade Men’s, Premiership
- Sydney University Touring Side of SA
- 2005 – Waringah Rats, First Grade Team Member
- 2006 – USA Professional Rugby Contract for the Muscatine Black Bears–2nd Division National Premiership Winners
- 2007 – Oxford University Scholarship–Rugby Oxford University Men’s First Grade Team Member
- Oxford University Blue–Awarded for Rugby Union
- 2011 – United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Team Member–5 Caps Men’s International Rugby-Asian 5 Nations Tournament ranking 2nd overall
We currently live in Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Married to my gorgeous Irish wife with two young children, William Keiran who is 3 and Amelie Elizebeth who is 1. I graduated from an architectural degree however, I now run a small to medium scale Interior Design and Fitout company in Abu Dhabi.
My secret tip for the next generation of players: Off the field, focus on your core strength always as your number one priority.