Hooper likely to miss Crusaders game as Olympics loom after Super Rugby exit
The Waratahs are preparing a farewell for Michael Hooper next week in his last Super Rugby game in Sydney, but the star flanker remains a chance to stay in Australian colours past the Rugby World Cup and through to an appearance in sevens at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Hooper is nearing the end of a five-year contract and though the 31-year-old is uncertain about where – or if – he will play next year, he has informed NSW Rugby he will not be continuing in Super Rugby.
That means the Waratahs’ clash with Moana Pasifika on Saturday week at Allianz Stadium is almost certainly Hooper’s last game at home.
The sixth-placed Tahs are still a remote chance of finishing in fourth and hosting a quarter-final but would require a series of increasingly improbable results over the last two rounds, starting with a draw between the Blues (4) and Hurricanes (5) on Saturday.
And, on current standings, three quarter-final upsets would be required for NSW to host a semi-final. So Waratahs bosses are quietly preparing to pay tribute to Hooper at home next week with a modest post-game presentation, and will market the game as a chance for NSW to farewell the man who has played 139 games for NSW since 2012, and skippered the team to a Super Rugby title win in 2014.
Hooper, who is likely to be rested for the Tahs’ trip to Christchurch this week, spoke recently about not knowing what he’ll do in the future but the No.7 is weighing up between four options: retirement, playing in France or Japan, or pursuing a stint with the Australian sevens team and the chance of becoming an Olympian next year. The John Manenti-coached Australian men’s sevens team rounded out an impressive World Series at the weekend by securing a fifthplaced finish, and their first automatic Olympic qualification. Previously, the Aussie men earned spots in Rio and Tokyo by winning at the Oceania qualifier.
Hooper told The Sydney Morning Herald last year he was interested in following in the footsteps of
Samu Kerevi, Sonny Bill Williams and Cheslin Kolbe and playing sevens in the Olympics.
“It would be cool
Hooper said.
“Seeing Samu and the guys represent your country at an Olympics, that’s pretty special.
“But I honestly don’t know could do it athletically.”
Australian sevens performance manager Scott Bowen said Hooper had the speed and athleticism, and predicted would be “outstanding” for the team given his leadership and experience.
Hooper mentioned the Olympics again last month and informed sources say discussions have continued between Rugby Australia and Hooper’s camp about the option wouldn’t it?” if
Iof him joining the Aussie sevens program, which holds appeal given the squad is based in Sydney.
Stephen Hoiles, a former assistant coach of the Australian sevens team, said Hooper could handle the physical transition comfortably and said he’d be a huge asset to Manenti’s program.
Hoiles said he’d previously talked with Hooper about playing sevens ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
“He is definitely one of the people who could succeed at that level ... the most important ingredient is almost the ability to stuff yourself in the hurt locker and stay there for 14 minutes, six times in a weekend,” Hoiles said.