WALLABIES PROUD OF ‘BRAVE’ HOOPER
WALLABIES hooker Dave Porecki has praised Michael Hooper for his openness about mental health issues as the veteran flanker prepares to return to the national side after a few months out of the game.
Hooper caught everyone by surprise when he pulled out of Australia’s tour of
Argentina and subsequently missed the entire Rugby
Championship due to o personal reasons.
Australia’s most-capped apped skipper has spent the past 12 weeks looking after himself and is days away from returning to action when the Wallabies take on Scotland in the first Test of the European spring tour.
Porecki hopes younger players took note of Hooper’s decisions.
“We could speak for hours how important it is for sport in general but also people of our age,” Porecki said.
“There’s a stigma in rugby that it might be taboo to speak up about things going on in your life. We were all incredibly proud to be a part of Hoops and the way that he had to approach certain things that he had to approach.
“I think everyone already had enough respect for him, but just for him in his position in Australian rugby to come out and be brave and address that, credit to him.
“He’s a great man and good to have around the squad and he keeps people accountable. He’s just come back refreshed and it’s unreal to have him come back in.”
The Wallabies will begin their five Test tour this weekend against Scotland ahead of matches against France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
It’s the perfect preparation for next year’s World Cup in France, which is why the Wallabies have based themselves over there this week to get used to what life might look like in 12 months.