Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper will get another chance in the golden jersey in a major tournament in Paris, with the veteran forward poised to accept a contract with Rugby Australia to play for the Aussie sevens team in 2024.
Hooper was a shock omission from Eddie Jones’ squad for the Rugby World Cup after the coach elected not to select the 125-Test breakaway for the tournament in France due to a lingering calf injury that clouded his availability for the Wallabies’ opener against Georgia on Sunday morning.
Sydney Morning Herald reports that Hooper will get the chance to take the field in Paris next year, however, at the Olympic Games.
The report says that the 31-year-old is set to re-sign with Rugby Australia for a further year and will join the Australian sevens program under coach John Manenti, according to informed sources who are unable to comment due to ongoing negotiations.
The deal would see Hooper play for the Australian team on the World Sevens Series circuit, including the new Perth Sevens in January, which has replaced the Sydney event. It would culminate in Hooper’s potential selection for the Olympic Games in Paris next year.
Other Test players to have played sevens at the Olympics include Sonny Bill Williams, Samu Kerevi, Cheslin Kolbe and Semi Radradra, and French superstar Antoine Dupont is also set to pursue selection in 2024.
The HSBC SVNS 2024 will kick off with the Dubai 7s on the 2nd and 3rd of December this year.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be held from July 26th to August 11th, 2024.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
