- Michael Hooper has opened up about his switch to rugby sevens
- Wallabies legend made switch after World Cup omission
- He revealed the humbling moment when he first arrived at camp.
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Michael Hooper has opened up about his career as a rugby sevens player after turning his back on the 15-a-side game last year.
Wallabies legend Hooper, 32, was brutally sacked from Eddie Jones’ 2023 World Cup squad, which ended in a disastrous tournament for Australia that saw the coach resign after just five months in the job. .
Hooper has remained quiet about Jones’ decision and has instead focused entirely on making a successful career at HSBC SVNS level, with the Paris Olympics team in his sights.
But it has been a humbling experience for the former captain who won 125 caps for his country, with the HSBC SVNS stars describing themselves as “athletes first, rugby players second”.
And speaking of the new HSBC documentary Go for the green and gold with Michael HooperThe wing remembered an incident that kept him grounded.
Michael Hooper opens up about his surprise switch to rugby sevens
The former Wallabies captain made the decision after being dropped from the World Cup squad.
“When I came into camp there was another Manly player who was 21 and he called me ‘Rook’ straight away,” he said.
“So I was the rookie from the beginning, so I knew where I was pretty immediately, and I love that.”
Hooper insisted he enjoyed being a student again, despite having an enviable experience at the top of 15-a-side football.
“I have a great capacity for learning and I will be throughout the year,” he added.
“So the more I can get all the players to talk to me like they would talk to each other or anyone else, that’s the most important thing.”