Is Michael O'Connor Living or Dead?

Living or Dead? Celebrities, films, tv shows, birthdays, deaths ... your one-stop shop to satisfy your morbid curiosity.

Is Australian rugby union footballer and coach, and rugby league footballer Michael O'Connor dead? Or ... still alive?

Subscribe to Living or Dead news !!!

Celebrity death and birthday updates to your inbox!

Unsub at any time. We'll never sell your details.

By Turing Testman

Updated 29 March 2023

Image info/credit

Australian rugby union footballer and coach, and rugby league footballer

Michael O'Connor is ...

Alive

Born	1 February 1960 in Nowra
Age	63 years, 4 months

Sex or gender	male
Country of citizenship	Australia
Occupation	rugby league player and rugby union player
Sport	rugby league
Member of sports team	Australia national rugby union team, St Helens RLFC, North Brisbane Rugby Club, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Australia national rugby league team

About Michael O'Connor

Michael O'Connor: The Rugby Legend Who Conquered Two Codes

From the beaches of Sydney to the stadiums of the world, Michael O'Connor has left an indelible mark on the sport of rugby. Born on February 1, 1960, in the suburb of Paddington, O'Connor grew up playing rugby union and quickly established himself as a prodigious talent. He made his debut for the Australian national team in 1982 and went on to play 12 seasons for the Wallabies, earning 37 caps and scoring 184 points.

O'Connor's skills as a centre were legendary, and he was known for his speed, agility, and powerful tackling. He played a key role in Australia's 1984 Grand Slam tour of Europe, scoring a try in the famous victory over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park. He also played in the 1987 Rugby World Cup, where he scored a crucial try in the final against England to help Australia win their first-ever World Cup.

But O'Connor's rugby journey didn't end there. In 1988, he made the controversial decision to switch codes and join the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL). It was a move that shocked the rugby world, but O'Connor quickly proved that he was just as talented on the league field as he was on the union pitch.

Playing as a centre or fullback, O'Connor helped the Sea Eagles win the 1996 NRL Premiership, scoring a try in the Grand Final victory over the St George Dragons. He also played for New South Wales in the State of Origin series and represented Australia in rugby league, earning 12 caps and scoring 56 points.

After retiring from playing, O'Connor turned his attention to coaching. He served as an assistant coach for the Wallabies from 2002 to 2004 and then took over as head coach of the Manly Sea Eagles in 2005. In his first season as coach, he led the Sea Eagles to the NRL Grand Final, where they lost to the Wests Tigers.

O'Connor's coaching career has also taken him overseas, where he has worked with teams in Japan and France. He is currently the head coach of the French Top 14 team, RC Toulon.

Throughout his career, O'Connor has been known for his fierce competitiveness, his unwavering commitment to his teams, and his ability to excel in both rugby codes. He is widely regarded as one of the