O'Connor has already played for the Ireland A team

The Times newspaper claims the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is taking legal advice over whether there is a loophole that would allow O'Connor to play.

That seems unlikely, as the Galway-born Wasps player has already played for the Ireland A team.

But the paper quotes a source as saying: "The England management are exploring this very seriously."

O'Connor himself said he had not considered playing for England, although he did not totally rule out the possibility.

"Obviously I would like to play for Ireland, but who knows what might happen," said the 24-year-old.

"I haven't given it a huge amount of thought. I want to play international rugby.

"To have to make a decision like that would be very hard.

"After all I come from the wild side of Ireland."

O'Connor would still have to live in England for another 18 months to qualify to play for the world champions.

The Wasps flanker said he had not spoken to acting England coach Andy Robinson about the potential switch.

However, it could all be an irrelevance as Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan needs a genuine replacement open-side flanker to replace Keith Gleeson who broke his leg at the start of the season.

O'Sullivan and his assistant Niall O'Donovan watched O'Connor recently against London Irish when he turned in a man-of-the match performance.