Hooper locks in five more years at Wallabies
IN a major coup before the opening Bledisloe Cup Test, Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has agreed to re-sign with Australian rugby for five more years in a massive deal worth almost $6 million.
Hooper has signed through to the end of the 2023 season, ensuring he’ll be available for the World Cups in Japan (2019) and France (2023).
The openside flanker would have commanded big offers had he chosen to go on the open market after next year’s World Cup, but has decided to remain loyal to Australia.
The 26-year-old is now the richest rugby player in the country and has cemented his status as the long-term leader of the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs.
Hooper, a two-time John Eales Medal winner, has played 82 Tests for Australia.
In April. he spoke of his enthusiasm for the future.
“I love playing rugby in Australia,” Hooper said.
“It is such a great place to play rugby. There is a great talent pool and we have a lot of players coming up who are hungry to win, and that’s something that is exciting.”
While the NRL and AFL have recently seen 10-year contracts offered to players, it is extremely rare in rugby.
In fact, only one player in Australia’s rugby history has previously signed a five-year deal. That was Lote Tuqiri in 2007, although he did not see the contract through after having the deal terminated two years later due to disciplinary reasons.
Hooper becomes the first forward in Australia to take up a five-year deal.