‘Don’t do it’: Sonny Bill’s advice to Hooper before Sevens switch

Before he decided to make the full-time switch to the Australian rugby sevens set-up, Michael Hooper contacted former All Black Sonny Bill Williams for advice.

Williams who is no stranger to changing codes, having switched to the 15-man game from rugby league before competing for New Zealand in sevens at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The advice from Williams was short and sweet: Don’t do it.

Hooper laughed saying that did not fill him with a heap of confidence.

He says he wants to get a lot of information from the guys who do play sevens because it is a different game.

French halfback Antoine Dupont, arguably the world’s best player, is set to play for the host nation at the Games, adding even more prestige to the tournament.

There is a long list of players who have successfully switched from 15s to sevens, but most have been backline players – such as Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi, who played for Australia in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Given the huge cardiovascular demands of the sport, few forwards have been able to adapt to the shortened game.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald