Michael Hooper set to face ex-Wallabies coach in highly anticipated return

Michael Hooper will make his long-awaited return to 15-a-side rugby in Osaka on Saturday, coming face to face with former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.

Hooper’s side Verblitz will tackle the Kobe Steelers in Japan Rugby League One on Saturday.

The former Wallabies captain, a contentious omission from Eddie Jones’ squad for the 2023 World Cup, hasn’t laced up the boots for a 15-a-side game in 18 months.

There has been no suggestion that a Wallabies recall could be on the cards, but Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has already flagged the prospect of Hooper playing for the trans-Tasman XV that will face the Lions in a tour game on July 12.

“I haven’t spoken to Hoops, but I imagine if he was available, he’d be a strong option as far as being a hugely experienced player with a high profile,” Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald in January.

Hooper has recently featured in the TV punditry box after a brief flirtation with rugby sevens, announcing his retirement in 2024.

The 33-year-old revealed in January he was linking up with Verblitz, the team he played 10 matches for while on sabbatical in 2021.

Ironically the star flanker is restarting his career against the team guided by Rennie.

Rennie coached Hooper in the Test arena, retaining him as skipper after taking charge of the Wallabies in 2020.

Hooper appeared in 125 Tests for the Wallabies between 2012 and 2023, a record 69 of them as skipper.

The veteran arrived at the Verblitz training base in Aichi to join a playing roster that includes the code-hopping former Sydney Roosters centre Joe Manu, who has scored five tries in eight appearances since his switch to rugby union.

Hooper replaced injured South African star Pieter Steph du Toit as Verblitz’s third overseas international and will need to make a major impact quickly to help revive a season that is listing badly.

Currently 10th in the 12-team league, Verblitz have won just once, and are only one place above the relegation positions as the season reaches its halfway stage.

At the same point last term, they had won four out of seven games, but still didn’t make the cut for the playoffs at season’s end.

Steve Hansen and Ian Foster, the past two All Blacks coaches, are both part of the brains trust at Verblitz.