Hong Kong Sevens: former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper to make international debut after being named in 13-man squad
- Australia’s most capped Test player Hooper finally expected to make sevens bow after overcoming Achilles injury
- Hooper will be hoping to have same impact as France talisman Antoine Dupont as sides gear up for Paris Olympics
Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is expected to make his international sevens debut in Hong Kong next week, after being named in Australia’s 13-man squad for the tournament.
Hooper, who appeared in 125 Tests and is his country’s most capped player, switched to sevens after being controversially axed by Eddie Jones ahead of last year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
The open-side flanker’s transition has been set back by an Achilles injury and a calf problem which have delayed his selection, but he now seems likely to make his first appearance at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, which start next Friday.
“For the first time we’ll get to see Michael Hooper in an Australian sevens jersey,” head coach John Manenti said in a statement.
“‘Hoops has worked hard to make his way into the squad, and we’re all delighted to welcome the ‘rookie’ into the mix.”
Hooper, 32, hopes to win a berth for the men’s Olympic sevens tournament this July.
“Like any new player it will be a learning experience for him, and an important start point to a potential Paris Olympics,” Manetti said.
Australia have been drawn in the same pool in Hong Kong as Olympic champions Fiji, and France, who won the Los Angeles tournament in early March.
He will hope to have a similar impact as France Test captain Antoine Dupont, whose switch to sevens has been a roaring success and boosted the Olympic hosts’ medal chances at the Paris Games.
Dupont, though, is not playing in Hong Kong, with the 27-year-old having returned to his club side Toulouse after the win in Los Angeles.
Australia have never threatened to win a medal in men’s sevens since the sport’s Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games, though the nation claimed the first women’s gold in Brazil.
