Michael Hooper pushing for berth in Australian side for 2024 Olympics

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has admitted his chance of Olympic glory in a different sport is unlike anything he’s ever experienced.

Michael Hooper scores a try during the group match between Australia and Canada of the HSBC Rugby Sevens Singapore tournament at the National Stadium in Singapore. Picture: Roslan RAHMAN / AFP.

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has admitted a chance at Olympic glory is unlike anything he’s ever experienced.

With 125 caps for Australia and more than 150 professional club games under his belt, you’d think nothing would unnerve the former flanker.

However, he said chasing a spot in the Australian Sevens Men’s side for the Paris Games has made him equally or more nervous than pulling on the Wallabies jumper for a World Cup.

“It has been the same for me as I haven’t really played this game yet,” Hooper said.

“I want to do well, I want to contribute to the team. So I’ve been quite nervous.

“Only 12 of us get to be Olympians so we’re all constantly pushing each other hard, but I just want to see the team get a medal at the end of the day.”

Hooper announced he would try out for the Sevens team after his shock axing from the Wallabies side ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

The 32-year-old and four-time John Eales medalist found another route to France by joining up with the Sevens.

He quickly took to the shorter format, scoring his maiden try on debut in Singapore.

“It’s so different because the games are short, you’re involved in every play,” Hooper said.

“I’ve been running around like a bit of a headless-chook most of the time, but I’m starting to pick up the game now.

“It’s been an enjoyable challenge.”

Former Wallabies captain turned 7s player Michael Hooper with NT rugby junior Clancy Nason. Picture: Darcy Jennings.

The former Waratah said the mental strain was the big difference, switching from playing once a week to multiple times across 48 hours.

The difference in fitness and energy was also a major shock to the system, as he realised he would deal with lactic acid so much more.

“Your efforts and output are higher, and then you’ve got to back it up with another game,” Hooper said.

“(In 15s) you’d have to prepare once a week for a big game, and then you go and do it again the following week.”

The switch from playing a full 80 as a starter to the anxiety of coming off the bench and still needing to make an instant impact was another mental switch.

“You could have the luxury of the ball being on the other side of the field, so you can think to yourself, ‘alright, I’ve got a couple of phases here or a big stoppage where I won’t be involved’,” he said.

“Whereas in sevens you’re engaged the whole time, so you come on, there’s two minutes on the clock, and the games just in the balance. You’re involved in high pressure constantly.”

Hooper was speaking in Darwin where he and the rest of the squad were heat training ahead of the French summer.

“It’s great to be up here and come down and see the kids, and also get a bit of heat for our training week,” he said.

“This is giving us the perfect prep to go to Paris and really is quality prep and doing it in Australia is nice.”