Michael Hooper (125 caps), Australian rugby legend, has decided to end his career with immediate effect. Involved in the Sevens program since November, he will not participate in the Paris Olympic Games. A page is turning.
An earthquake for rugby in Australia. At 32, Michael Hooper has decided to end his career. The announcement was unexpected to say the least, the third row wing was due to participate in the Olympic Games with his Sevens selection. He declared via a press release published by the Australian Federation: “What a ride! My Olympic journey has come to an end, and with it, my Australian rugby career.”
A rich career
Michael Hooper will go down as one of the greatest players of the 21st century, playing an impressive 125 games for the Wallabies. In 2014, he won Super Rugby with the Waratahs and became Australia’s youngest ever captain, aged just 23. But 2015 would be a breakthrough year for him and his team, winning the Rugby Championship and finishing second in the World Cup behind Dan Carter’s legendary All Blacks.
Unfortunately, the indestructible Hooper had flaws. Plagued by psychological difficulties, the player had to put his international career on hold in 2022. Despite his return a few months later, he will not be traveling during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, snubbed by Eddie Jones.
As the Olympic Games approached, the Sydney native had decided to begin a transition to rugby 7s, notably participating in the tournaments in Hong Kong and Singapore (10 matches, 1 try). But the iconic number 7 finally decided to call it a day before Paris 2024.
