Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
29 - 14
FT
37 - 12
FT
WOMENS
22 - 31
FT
43 - 17
FT
0 - 48
FT
45 - 0
FT
7 - 106
FT
17 - 22
FT
51 - 13
FT
U20
43 - 12
FT
U20
21 - 22
FT
U20
26 - 34
FT
U20
21 - 44
FT
U20
48 - 24
FT
U20
International

Report: Michael Hooper to make shock code switch after Wallabies axing

Michael Hooper of the Wallabies looks on during The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 14, 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is set to switch rugby codes in 2024 after he was left out of Eddie Jones’ Rugby World Cup squad.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to a report by Iain Payten of the Sydney Morning Herald, the 31-year-old flanker is set to accept a contract with the Sevens programme with an eye to Paris for the 2024 Olympics with the Australian men’s Sevens side.

The Test centurion is looking at a one-year commitment and would first feature on the World Rugby Sevens circuit with Australia before the Olympics.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Hooper would expected to be a star attraction for the new Perths Sevens event in January, after the event moved from Sydney.

Australia gained automatic qualification for the Olympics after finishing fifth this year on the World Series.

Hooper’s five-year deal with Rugby Australia is set to expire at the end of 2023 and the openside flanker has expressed interest in a switch to Sevens in the past, with the gruelling fitness requirements and the chance to win a gold medal appealing to the No 7.

Should Hooper go through with the switch, he would join stars Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi as high profile Wallabies to make the move in recent years.

ADVERTISEMENT

France’s superstar Antoine Dupont is also reportedly considering the 2024 Olympics as well.

Recommended

The 3 World Cup selection dilemmas facing England

‘Anything can happen’: Aussie journo on Wallabies’ World Cup chances

Why Springboks are World Cup favourites after ‘statement’ win over All Blacks

‘We’re human’: Kirwan describes the ‘enormous amount of pressure’ on All Blacks

INTERVIEW

 

ADVERTISEMENT
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

1

My British & Irish Lions team for the first Test – Andy Goode

2

Scottish trio called up to Lions squad ahead of Wallabies Test series

3

'Never know': All Blacks first-five gives retirement hint after emotional Test

4

Andy Farrell accused of 'devaluing the Lions' with latest selection call

5

Rassie Erasmus' 'sad' verdict on Jasper Wiese's latest red card

6

Double Test upsets as Rugby Europe teams shock North America

7

Beauden Barrett weighs in on controversial yellow card

8

Rugby World Cup regulars torn apart by Uruguay in Montevideo

Comments

4 Comments
d
dan 679 days ago

No shock. It’s been planned for some time. Yesterday’s news.

J
Jim 679 days ago

Hardly a code-switch. A misleading headline. Rugby Sevens is rugby.

P
Paul 679 days ago

Agree.

T
TI 679 days ago

It’s literally a different sport with different laws, and only partially overlapping requisite skillsets. The fact, that it’s organized by the same mafia doesn’t make it the same sport.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

LONG READ

Mick Cleary: 'Why the Lions have no excuses and Owen Farrell should be in the first Test 23'

Farell jnr proved his class and composure for a Lions team which delivered a statement performance, albeit against weak opposition.

LONG READ

Iconic Lions moments of the professional era: 25-21

Monye's dash to redemption, Weir's 'mistaken identity' and Kearney's cracker feature in the first five of our iconic Lions moments.

LONG READ

Kane James: 'I think it’s really important to not like losing'

The Exeter Chiefs backrow talks about his Pacific Island genes, rugby obsession and admiration for Ardie Savea.

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 22 minutes ago
Beauden Barrett weighs in on controversial yellow card

It must have been another occasion I was thinking of, as Riekos name was what triggered the memory for me (I’m sure there was something involving Rieko, but maybe im imagining it), and I just went back and checked the extended highlights (25min subsrciber package) and at 5min 20 the last pass deflected off Narawa’s shoulder (well maybe that could have been what I was worried about, as he did jump to try and catch it, and I had to go frame by frame to tell it went straight through his hands) into touch (very similar to test 1 when Dmac fired it into Theo to see if he could find the open man).


But to answer your question, yes of course France would have been allowed to play on (essentially) at that point and you can pick whatever offence you like (sometimes you chose the first offence because it’s say an easier kick than the last offence, ofc France would have wanted any PT offered). It doesn’t always eventuate like that though, in the Lions v AUNZ game the ref (georgian guy) played advantage on a chip kick and blew the whistle when the first guy missed the bouncing ball but the second bounce went right into another guy who broke away down the field (but the ref stopped play too quickly instead of allowing play to continue to see how things went).

43 Go to comments
I
IS 30 minutes ago
Tupou Vaa'i out of third test as All Blacks mull changes including Love at No.10

Tf you on about he most definitely is a strong lock and hes played international games you just sound biased asf and you think hes short lol hes 2cm or 200mm off your player that yiu want and stats shows he’s a better player than your guy too

20 Go to comments
I
IS 33 minutes ago
Tupou Vaa'i out of third test as All Blacks mull changes including Love at No.10

What experience does shalfoone and walker have buddy

20 Go to comments
I
IS 34 minutes ago
Tupou Vaa'i out of third test as All Blacks mull changes including Love at No.10

Why can’t you go with ah kuoi hes played international rugby and is amazing at it playing for the maoris and for the nzxv so we definitely can go with him and final

20 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 43 minutes ago
Tupou Vaa'i out of third test as All Blacks mull changes including Love at No.10

And he is out…… has a medical issue but not an injury…

20 Go to comments
J
JW 47 minutes ago
Tupou Vaa'i out of third test as All Blacks mull changes including Love at No.10

Those are some fine NS names TT but I think they’ll use the in squad players that aren’t first choice before those names, like Ah Kuoi, Jacobsen, Hotham etc first.

20 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 50 minutes ago
O'Keeffe gets Springboks as officials announced for Rugby Championship

Getting advice on making a 60min whinge video. How’s that go again?

18 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 58 minutes ago
Three former All Blacks assess the playing style adopted against France

I dont see the improvement from test one sorry. Biggest difference was France were terrible in the first half of test two. ABs scored 6 tries… great… they got 7 the first week. Just had a few taken away.

10 Go to comments
B
BA 58 minutes ago
NRL superstar Kalyn Ponga eyes up sensational rugby union switch

Maybe lil bit more than regular but not a heap more

12 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 1 hour ago
Three former All Blacks assess the playing style adopted against France

Why would you watch those comps to commentate around NZ rugby? No ABs playing in those comps. Just lots of Kiwis , even in the 6N

10 Go to comments
U
Utiku Old Boy 1 hour ago
Crusaders halfback re-signs with franchise for two more years

He has been a bit of a revelation this year at the Saders. He could rank behind Roigard but ahead of Hotham in the National pecking order with some more game time. He is flourishing where he is but it will be interesting to see how they play them both next season. Our number nine cupboard is full.

1 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 1 hour ago
NRL superstar Kalyn Ponga eyes up sensational rugby union switch

He has two more years under contract. On big money too. I don’t see NZR topping up an SR contract tho.

12 Go to comments
C
Carlos 1 hour ago
'I was stunned': Gonzalo Quesada implies Boks needlessly disrepected Italy

The laws also state that you won’t do anything against the spirit of the game. A purposeful play is cynical and should be penalized accordingly. If the kick was accidentally short or one of the chasers was ahead of the kicker, the “scrum” law applies. The fact it was purposeful and obviously practiced showed its cynicism.


Your inability to see this is also expected.

17 Go to comments
F
Flankly 2 hours ago
'I was stunned': Gonzalo Quesada implies Boks needlessly disrepected Italy

Are you talking about the laws or referee discretion?


The law says the sanction is a scrum. But the ref can do whatever he/she wants, including a penalty of course.


You have a nice little interpretation guideline for refs, about intent and cynicism. You should send Andrew Brace a helpful note to suggest it.


Rassie took the bet that he would get the scrum. Good call.

17 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
Bok rule-benders are changing the game. They deserve respect

You want a lot of things that will never happen. You describe rugby League. You should go and watch that then. Rugby is supposed to be competitive. It's the opposition team that should figure out how to defend and turn it into an attack on the fly. The Boks play within the rules. Everyone says that kick off should have been a penalty. The law state that from a kick off it's a scrum. It's confusing as with mauls and rucks, the player has to be behind the kicker. The same does not hold true for kick offs. That law they can change, because the same rule should apply across the board for players to be behind the kicker. It's not the first time that the infield lineout has been used, only the first time in an international match. If I remember correctly, the Barbarians used it against England in 2021 or 2022 (under correction). It's also been used in SR during the 2000’s. There is just this big hoo haw because the Boks did it. If it was another team like the Irish or England or the French or someone, it would be innovative, genius and brilliant. The dummy the AB's did where a player broke to the right, acting like he had the ball, meanwhile the scrumhalfs ran down the sideline and scored. I don't hear you cry about that. That can be seen as cynical play and there is even a case for unsportsmanlike behaviour and at a minimum a yellow card. Yet there is silence from you about that. I on the other hand thought that was a great tactic. It's also not a new invention, but an old one. You only love rugby when it suits you. I don't care what new tactics teams use, or whoever the team is that is doing it. Every new invention or tactic or play that the coaches comes up with is great for rugby. It keeps it interesting. There is no law that prevents other coaches using the same tactics or create their own. It's up to coaches to come up with defense strategies to cut that down, and even retaliate against it. The game is never boring. It keeps evolving. People keep talking about rugby and all these things is what draw new fans. They don't want boring. They want innovative and fun. They want to hear the crash of bodies. They want to see the strength of the scrums. They want to see the speed, agility and flair of the players. The amazing passes and jukes or side steps. The only reason you are so up in arms is because the Boks did it and now you want it banned. The same rhyme over and over. Matt Williams wannabe. Nah, you don't love rugby or else you would enjoy the most exciting era yet in this lovely sport. Stars in so many national teams has never been more abundant nor was there so many teams that could beat each other on any given day. Not to even mention watching an era of the most controversial but most innovative and clever coach ever. A dynasty that's to last for a very long time even after he retires. Like him or hate him, his genius is undeniable and he is recognised world wide as the best coach in most countries by fans and pundits alike, even if they don't like him. Stop the hate and rather enjoy what's to come.

39 Go to comments
B
BA 2 hours ago
Southern hemisphere heavyweights to contest World Rugby U20s final

ABs v Boks the old enemy we meet again , defending the Mana of the South !!! All we need is Oz and Puma boys to get one too 💪🏽💪🏽

1 Go to comments
C
Carlos 3 hours ago
'I was stunned': Gonzalo Quesada implies Boks needlessly disrepected Italy

Cynical play, purposeful offside. Penalty against the Boks. It’s scrum when it’s not purposeful but mistiming.

17 Go to comments
C
Carlos 3 hours ago
'I was stunned': Gonzalo Quesada implies Boks needlessly disrepected Italy

Totally correct. I said the same thing below before I saw your comment.

17 Go to comments
C
Carlos 3 hours ago
'I was stunned': Gonzalo Quesada implies Boks needlessly disrepected Italy

Because the offside was not mistiming but purposeful, it was against the spirit of the game. It was a cynical play and if I was a referee I would have called a full arm penalty against Boks and give a warning for foul play. I would have been tempted to YC either or both players.


If you don’t see this attempt as arrogant, disrespectful and cynical, you are part of the problem.

17 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Bok rule-benders are changing the game. They deserve respect

Lifting the ball player in general play I'm okay with provided it's made clear by world rugby that the lifted player can be tackled at any point while being lifted to prevent it becoming a second obstruction, the maul needs to remain the only legal form of obstruction of the defence.

39 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Iconic Lions moments of the professional era: 25-21 Iconic Lions moments of the professional era: 25-21