Wallabies great replaces crocked Bok in Japan
01/16/2025 08:01 AM
Former Australia skipper Michael Hooper is coming out of retirement to play for Toyota Verblitz as injury cover for two-time World Cup winner Pieter-Steph du Toit.
The 33-year-old Hooper played the last of his 125 Tests in 2023 before being unceremoniously axed by then-coach Eddie Jones ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
He turned to sevens but called time on his playing career in June after missing out on selection for the Paris Olympics, working as a commentator since.
Hooper, who captained the Wallabies a record 69 times, told Australia's Channel Seven he had signed with Verblitz for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign. He played for the Japanese club in 2021.
“It's a great club, really good people and competitive,” Hooper said, adding that he got a call from Verblitz boss and former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen after Springbok Du Toit was sidelined by injury.
“There wasn't too many places I would have really been keen to play, and this was right up there because I had such a fond memory from being up there a few years back,” said Hooper.
“Really lucky, to be honest, and thankful for Steve Hansen to give me an opportunity.”
Hooper told the broadcaster he was fit and free from injury but needed to put on some muscle.
“There is still a little part of me that would like to see if I could mix it again,” he said on why he was returning.
“It's a bit of a Hail Mary that we didn't see coming. There was some discussions a while back but this has really developed in pretty much a week's time.”
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
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