Michael Hooper

Michael Hooper is an openside flanker who is the current captain of the Wallabies. Since his international debut in 2012, he’s been capped by his country more than 100 times. Michael Hooper was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.

Born 29 October 1991, Michael Hooper played his junior rugby for the Manly Roos alongside future Wallabies like George Smith. In 2011, he also played for and occasionally captained Australia U20 at the IRB Junior World Championship. After, he was named International Player of the Tournament.

But, his senior career actually began a year earlier, when he made his debut for the Brumbies during the 2010 Super Rugby season. However, Michael Hooper only stayed with the Brumbies until 2012, when he signed with the Waratahs ahead of the 2013 season.

Since, he’s stayed with the Waratahs, notching up more than 120 appearances for the side in the process. Of this portion of his career, his proudest moment came in 2014, when he captained the side to victory in the Super Rugby final.

Although Michael Hooper is still registered with the Waratahs, he also signed to play for Toyota Verblitz in Japan as part of a sabbatical-style deal in 2021. In his season with the side, he helped them reach the semi-finals of the Top League.

Although he’s highly decorated at the domestic level, Michael Hooper is best known for his career with the Wallabies. Since 2012, he’s been capped more than 100 times by his country and has captained them on more than 50 occasions. During his international career, he’s reached the final of the Rugby World Cup and has won The Rugby Championship. He’s also received a number of personal honours, such as multiple John Eales Medals.

With many years of elite rugby ahead of him, we can’t wait to see what else Michael Hooper can achieve for the Waratahs and the Wallabies.