Wallabies captain Michael Hooper quits Australian rugby to play in Japan
He sacrificed $15,000 a week when COVID hit in a bid to help save the game of rugby, and now Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has cashed in a release clause to play overseas.
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Wallabies captain Michael Hooper will be playing alongside Kieran Read and coached by Steve Hansen next year after accepting a sabbatical deal to join Japanese team Toyota Verblitz.
Hooper has signed a six-month deal with the Top League team, where he will also reunite with Toyota’s head coach Simon Cron, previously assistant at the NSW Waratahs.
Cron was convinced to leave the Tahs and take the job at Verblitz by former All Blacks coach Hansen, who is now director of rugby at the team.
Legendary All Blacks skipper Read joined the team after leading the Kiwis for the final time in last year’s World Cup.
It’s understood Read and Hansen spoke to Hooper numerous times about joining Toyota, which presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the flanker to learn from some of the best minds in rugby before returning for potential playoffs for the Tahs and to the Wallabies mid-way through 2021.
“This is a great opportunity for me to learn in a new rugby environment and develop a different perspective on the game,” Hooper said.
“I’m really excited in the direction of rugby in Australia both at a Super Rugby level and at the Wallabies too under Dave (Rennie).
“The Super Rugby AU competition this year has unearthed some really good young talent and they are all keeping me on my toes.
RA’s interim Chief Executive Rob Clarke said: “We’re incredibly supportive of Michael making this move in the first half of 2021.
“It’s a prudent decision, especially for someone who has been a devoted servant to the domestic game here in Australia for over 10 years now.
“While he will head overseas for the first six months of next year, Michael has made it abundantly clear how committed he is to Australian Rugby until at least the Rugby World Cup in 2023”.
Hooper was one of five top players given a sabbatical clause by Rugby Australia when all were asked to take massive pay cuts amid the COVID lockdown to save the game financially.
Hooper was the hardest hit, sacrificing $15,000 a week on his annual $1.2 million salary to keep the game going.
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As a trade, RA told Hooper, Matt To’omua, Dane Haylett-Petty, Kurtley Beale and Izack Rodda they could all take a six-month overseas sabbatical any time over the next three years.
As it turned out, Beale quit Australian rugby to join French club Racing 92 prior to the resumption of the domestic-only Super Rugby AU competition, while Rodda had a falling out with Queensland Reds and quit his four-year contract, signing with French side Lyon for one year.
It’s understood To’omua and Haylett-Petty will also take up sabbatical deals in Japan in 2021.
Hooper’s decision to play in the Top League next season means he will not be available for the Waratahs for their 2021 campaign.
But it also alleviates NSW and RA of the significant burden of his salary for that period of time, which is necessary given the financial strain of both and lack of a broadcast deal beyond this year.
Hooper, 28, has played 99 Tests for the Wallabies and 150 Super Rugby games for the Waratahs and Brumbies.
He has led Australia since 2014, when he took over from Stephen Moore to become the youngest Wallabies skipper since Ken Catchpole in 1961 at the age of 22.
He skippered the Wallabies at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, and has stated his desire to retain the captaincy, however new coach Dave Rennie has given him no guarantees as he seeks to revive the team from their seventh-place world rankings.
It’s unclear whether Hooper’s decision will sway the decision either way, given he will still be available for any Tests played this year, and then be back for the international season in 2021.
Hooper is expected to join Toyota in January, play the full season through to the end of May and then return to Australia in June.
Toyota’s squad also includes Springboks fullback Willie le Roux.
Originally published as Wallabies captain Michael Hooper quits Australian rugby to play in Japan