Waratahs’ Hooper, 25, new Wallabies captain

MICHAEL Hooper was named as the new Wallabies captain yesterday, replacing the soonto-retire Stephen Moore as the team builds towards the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

The popular openside flanker was firm favourite to take over and will lead the side in the Rugby Championship opener against the All Blacks in Sydney on August 19.

Hooper, 25, who has played 68 tests, has endured a difficult Super Rugby season with the under-performing NSW Waratahs and his leadership of the side and form have been under question.

But Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said he was the right man for the job.

Moore had already announced that he would retire from international rugby at the end of the year.

“Michael always shows on the field how much he loves the gold jersey and that’s why he is totally respected among the rugby players in Australia,” Cheika said.

Moore, who has been capped 120 times, will continue to play for the Wallabies, helping Hooper’s transition, until the end of Australia’s European tour in November.

“It's a huge honour to just wear the Wallabies jersey, let alone captain the side,” Hooper said.

“There are quite a few good young leaders in this team, like Bernard [Foley], Adam [Coleman], Samu [Kerevi] and Allan [Alaalatoa], so we’ll be working together to take this team to a new level.”

Sydney-born Hooper, who reached 50 caps faster than any other Australian player and is the second-youngest to make the milestone, has already captained the side in the absence of Moore.

He was first called up, to replace the injured veteran, in Australia’s 2014 June test series against France, becoming the third-youngest Wallabies skipper in history at age 22.

He again stepped up this year to skipper the team in two tests.