Michael Hooper has joined Australia’s rugby sevens squad in a bid to cap his glittering career with an Olympic gold medal.
The 32-year-old, who was controversially overlooked by former coach Eddie Jones for the Wallabies’ ill-fated World Cup bid, has signed up to play in the newly-revamped global sevens series in the build-up to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The confirmation of Hooper’s bid came as news emerged that French ace Antoine Dupont is set to ditch the 2024 Six Nations to make his own bid to represent the Olympic hosts at the tournament.
Dupont was the face of France’s ill-fated Rugby World Cup campaign. He suffered a broken cheekbone in the pool stages that curtailed his time, although he was back in action for the narrow quarterfinal loss.
Hooper, a four-time winner of the John Eales Medal as the best Wallaby player of the year and a 125-time capped flanker , will join the sevens program full-time in January, and hopes to play his first tournament at the inaugural Perth SVNS event over the Australia Day long weekend.
A Wallabies’ captain on a record 69 occasions, the announcement almost certainly spells the end of Hooper’s national ambitions in the 15-a-side game.
But he says he is looking forward hugely to his new challenge in what he called a “massively exciting year with the Olympics on the horizon”.
“The transition is something I have thought a lot about and I’m extremely motivated by the challenge of playing sevens and trying to earn my way into this team,” Hooper said in a Rugby Australia statement.
Aussie men’s Sevens coach John Manenti with Michael Hooper. (Photo by Nicholas Ward/ Rugby Australia)
“I’ve started making a few changes to my training in preparation and can’t wait to get started in January.
“I’d like to thank John Manenti (the Australian men’s sevens coach) and Scott Bowen (the national performance manager for sevens) for the opportunity to join the program.”
The Australian men’s team have already qualified for the Olympics which will be held at the Stade de France in Paris in July.
Manenti was delighted by the signing, saying: “Michael is an outstanding rugby player and a great leader, so we’re thrilled to have him join our program.
“We know he’s got a strong skill set for Sevens and a big engine and we’re looking forward to helping him transition quickly to the format.
“He is a player with big-game experience and to have someone like Michael in our set-up can be a point of difference for us next year.”
The Australian team start their SVNS series campaign on 2-3 December in Dubai, before visiting Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore and Madrid on the road to Paris.
Hooper was most recently seen in action for the Eddie Jones-coached Barbarians in the defeat against Wales in Cardiff, where he looked sharp in what was only an invitation affair.
with AAP
Anibal Pyro
Roar Rookie
ABS, Pumas, Fiji and France in that order, are main favourites to win gold at París at this moment. Argentina 7s program with Moneyman, Isgro and Lucho are way ahead of Wallabies right now. But long way to go yet.
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
Lukhan, Rory Arnold, Holloway, Latu and Folau Faiingaa should have gone too. Possibly Wright instead of Vuni and Toole for Jorgenson.
Jed
Roar Rookie
DOC, Biscuit man is a Sao Biscuit. Crumbles easily when the pressure is applied.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
There is a big difference between Australias sevens teams and others, other that they won a COVID interuptted season recently where others missed rounds, they have been 4th or worst for how many years . I dont think you can really argue that Hooper is coming into a well resourced team of specialists, unlike SBW into NZ where SBW looked the slowest and least fit player and Hooper generally has been the Wallabies fittest player when he was younger. Is Hooper at 32 good or bad, for Fiji or NZ it would be probably bad. Australia they have had worse in the past in the squad. Perry Baker is still going at 37.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I hope he earns his spot in the team through his performance and doesn’t block someone more deserving of an Olympic appearance. I’ve still yet to be proven wrong our Men’s 7 program is an extended gap year full of drinking and partying for young blokes. On one hand you are saying Hooper might block a deserving player but now it's just a glorified gap year anyway? Obviously won't be blocking anybody deserving if that's the case.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not really. Unless the fact that they were regular first choice test starters for close to a decade is why they are the anomaly. Which Hooper would fall into. That's the case for a lot of regular test players. Read wasn't always the best 8 during Super Rugby season. Likewise Carter not often the best 10. In fact the Crusaders missed the finals in 2015 for example yet all 3 were first choice starters for the All Blacks. Hooper is probably a different boat because due to so few injuries he rarely missed any games. McCaw took the majority of the 2013 Super Rugby season off the refresh. Carter took a chunk of 2014 off (not considering his earlier one as he played in France). Hooper played 178 provincial games in 14 seasons. McCaw 145 in 15 seasons. No player can get up to maintain their peak every single game for 28-31 matches a year, year after year.
jameswm
Roar Guru
ACL agreed. Not hammies though. You can definitely get to top speed after hammy injuries. Most sprinters deal with them.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
When his passport issue first came to light
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
This is not the Canberra woke bubble mate.
CUW
Roar Rookie
depends on the injury - very rarely has any sprinter regained speed after leg injuries - including Bolt!!! in rugger there are scores of players who lost pace after leg injuries - the first to mind is Goodhue , then theres Ngatai NOrth ( now at center and slower) Savea Mataele can go on. hamstring and acl injuries heal but then the muscles dont become as good as original. late career Bolt suffered few injuries and lost pace a lot and with age it becomes harder - even for someone decorated like SAfrazer-Price!!! and these just out n out sprinters!!! rugger players have to do a lot more than just run on a stright line. they will get hit hard - they will have to hit hard , then get up and do it again. if not conditioned for 7S the lungs will burn like in a desert !!!
CUW
Roar Rookie
that is the anomaly - perhaps EJ shud have given a different excuse.
CUW
Roar Rookie
JUST speed isnt enuf - a lot of stamina is necessary to cover ground. only 14 guys on the park of same size as the XV game - so need a lot of stamina to just run around and maintain structure. used to play 7S - but half court - coz after the first 3-4 minutes the lungs were burning on a court !!!! the game is similar to footy - coz there a lot of running around but little action. no rucks with 10 people - no lineouts with half the side - no 8 pack scrums - lot of action in a short time - but the 450 secons will feel like an eternity when someone is running around u like CarlinIsles !! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
CUW
Roar Rookie
its not just about speed - or running 100 in a straight line - in 7S. one needs to be able to recover fast from one break to another - get up run n run laterally or chase or tackle. its speed and stamina combined - which MH will have to prove to be in the team. also he isnt the biggest guy around and that too makes an issue. someone like K Smith had lots of speed and stamina to outweigh lack of size among big guys. less players on the same sized park means more involvements and more energy - coz there arent many gang-tackles !! only good thing - now there are more subs allowed after corona - so can get some rest n recover.
woodart
Roar Rookie
even getting to the olympics would be a great finish for a great wallaby. make that GREAT wallaby.
Sage
Roar Rookie
It's not just Rugby though is it. It's 7's & more intense and more exhausting with nowhere to hide and a 1 minute break in between. I disagree that "most players" can be going just as hard at the end of 15 minutes as when they started with only a minute break. Hooper can.
Fin
Roar Rookie
I doubt it is anywhere near what he'd get from going to Japan or Europe. IMO Hoops knew he needed a challenge to keep him going, something new to sink his teeth into. Definitely not about the money.
Wolzal
Roar Rookie
Honestly there should be. In an age where we have all these shortened format sports (T20 Cricket, Fast4 Tennis, Fast5 Netball, Nitro Athletics, AFLX) packaged for casual TV audiences, its honestly baffling how Sevens has been overlooked. That said there are events outside the HSBC calendar, such as the Oceania Sevens which was held earlier this month, and then the quadrennial events, with the World Cup and Commonwealth Games alternating with the Olympic Games.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Hooper is an absolute pro and I’d expect he’d leave no stone unturned transitioning to the shorter format. If I was a betting man and barring injury, I’d have a couple of dollars on Hooper playing the Olympics and going well.
Fin
Roar Rookie
Go well Hoops. I. Watch a bit of 7s but will watch a lot more now. Always thought it would be 7s or retirement for him post WC. I’ll back him to be an Olympic medallist.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Not just the coach... let's not even talk about the lovely captain from that time. I've still yet to be proven wrong our Men's 7 program is an extended gap year full of drinking and partying for young blokes. See the world, meet lots of lovely women... occasionally play Rugby.