Tom Hooper explains why injury setback became a ‘blessing in disguise’

Wallabies backrower Tom Hooper played 24 games for club and country last season before linking up with the Exeter Chiefs, going on to make more than 20 appearances. ‘Hoops’ returned to the Wallabies fold in July, but then injury struck – only it proved to be “a blessing in disguise.”

Hooper made a 12-minute cameo off the bench in a 33-31 defeat to Ireland in Sydney, but the loose forward would take no further part in the July Tests. The Wallabies confirmed the following week that Hooper had picked up a shoulder injury.

The 23-Test Wallaby missed matches Nations Championship fixtures against France and Italy, and didn’t feature in the Flight Centre Series matches against Japan, with the Aussies winning both those matches in Osaka and Townsville.

But Hooper is back in the mix under coach Les Kiss, “feeling really good and ready to go” after overcoming the shoulder issue. The Wallabies have made the long-haul trip to Argentina, which is a country Hooper is yet to play in for the Wallabies.

“Definitely a blessing in disguise,” Hooper told reporters.

“you really notch up the games over there. I’ve already played 20, 25-odd games for the Exeter Chiefs which is a massive workload.

“Obviously I was absolutely gutted to be missing out on some massive Test matches and you see the boys digging in, you just want to be out there. But you’ve definitely just got to listen to your body and that’s what we lean as athletes. You’ve got to listen to your body when it’s trying to tell you something and for me it was trying to tell me that I needed to get everything right and ready to go for a big backend to the year.”

Hooper started at blindside flanker for Exeter in the Premiership Final against the Northampton Saints, but the Chiefs fell to a 26-17 defeat at Allianz Stadium. The backrower had strung a series of 80-minute performances together in the backend of the season.

Reigning John Eales Medal (Wallabies Player of the Year) winner Len Ikitau suited up for the Chiefs last season too, starting at inside centre in the big dance. Ikitau featured in all three Nations Championship Tests but missed both Japan matches due to injury.

Ikitau and Hooper have both been named in the Wallabies squad for Argentina, with the selection of Taniela Tupou another notable inclusion. Tupou plays for Racing 92 in the Top 14 but has been named in the squad, after scoring three tries in two games against Japan.

“As long as they keep picking me I’ll keep showing up and then whenever I’m not allowed to because of rules and all that jazz, I’ll head back to Exeter and keep showing up for them and then hopefully pop back into Wallaby camp,” Hooper said.

“It’s a bit of a back and forth for me for the next couple of years but I’m just going to make sure I keep playing well.

“I just get told where I’m going and just try and play good footy wherever that is.”