Skipper talks up our city

WALLABIES captain Michael Hooper has heaped praise on Townsville for providing an excellent build-up to the week and game-night for the visiting rugby teams.

“We were really spoiled with our facilities this week. We trained at the Cowboys and it was amazing we were allowed to train there. It is a great facility. We had great preparation in terms of that,” Mr Hooper (pictured) said.

“I woke up this morning and the street was getting set up for the games, there were Wallabies jerseys everywhere. There were a lot of the other countries’ jerseys, but it was predominantly Wallabies jerseys, which is great to see.”

He found it noticeable how many people had travelled from around Queensland to see the game.

“That was really exciting for us. Playing up here, the crowd is so vocal, so supportive of us as the Wallabies and it is felt on the field,” he said.

“We really enjoyed our week up here and hopefully we can get back.” With a decision expected in May 2022 for Australia’s bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup, he believed Townsville would be an excellent stadium to host some of those games.

“(The World Cup) is a great opportunity to showcase rugby in our country and we have some fantastic stadiums to do it and Townsville was an amazing venue tonight.”