Aussies secure Hooper until 2023

– Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has signed a five-year contract with Rugby Australia (RA) that will keep him in the country until after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

The 26-year-old flanker has already amassed 82 Test caps since making his debut in 2012.

“I never really thought about going elsewhere or entertaining anything like that,” Hooper said yesterday. “I was really keen to stay in Australia, and keep doing what I can for the Wallabies and the Waratahs.”

Hooper was eligible to seek a lucrative contract in Europe or Japan and still be available for selection for the Wallabies under “Giteau’s law”, an exemption to RA’s selection policy introduced ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Australia restrict Wallabies selection to those playing domestically but under the exemption, named after former utility back Matt Giteau, players contracted to overseas clubs can be picked if they have earned at least 60 Test caps.

Hooper has been battling a hamstring injury sustained during the Test series against Ireland in June and missed the last few weeks of the Waratahs’ Super Rugby season.

He returned to training with the Wallabies earlier this week and said he expected to be ready for the Rugby Championship opener against the All Blacks in Sydney next weekend. – AFP