Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper wanted to play for AUNZ team against British and Irish Lions

Having come out of retirement in Japan to play club rugby in Japan, ex-Wallabies captain Michael Hooper’s comeback may extend to a game against the British and Irish Lions.

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is being targeted to play for a combined Australia-New Zealand invitational team against the British and Irish Lions at Adelaide Oval on July 12.

Hooper, 33, came out of retirement in January to join Japanese club Toyota Verblitz for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Toyota Verblitz are co-coached by New Zealand pair Steve Hansen and Ian Foster.

And with Foster being announced on Thursday as one of the coaches of the AUNZ Invitational XV to meet the Lions during their tour of Australia this year, star flanker Hooper is set to be asked to play.

“There’s a young kid in Nagoya called Michael Hooper who’s going pretty good at the moment,” Foster said.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing him back having a bit of a sniff. I haven’t told him that yet either, by the way. This will be a surprise to him.”

The AUNZ team is expected to largely be made up of fringe Wallabies as well as New Zealand players based in Japan.

Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper could play for an AUNZ Invitational team against the British and Irish Lions in July. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“I hope it’s a 60-40 to the Aussies because it’ll make my life a little bit easier that week,” Foster said.

“This is an Australian idea and a Rugby Australia tournament, so it’s really whatever suits the development of the younger players or the established players on the edge of the Wallabies squad.”

The match at Adelaide Oval will be the Lions’ final hitout before the first match of their three-Test series against the Wallabies on July 19 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

“It’s not a festival game … there’s no such thing as a dud game,” Foster said.

Rugby Australia on Thursday confirmed the Lions’ nine-match schedule on their tour, including a game against a First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne on July 22.

The 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia schedule –

v Western Force, June 28, Optus Stadium

v Queensland Reds, July 2, Suncorp Stadium

v NSW Waratahs, July 5, Allianz Stadium

v ACT Brumbies, July 9, GIO Stadium

v AUNZ Invitational XV, July 12, Adelaide Oval

v Australia, July 19, Suncorp Stadium

v First Nations and Pasifika XV, July 22, Marvel Stadium

v Australia, July 26, MCG

v Australia, August 2, Accor Stadium

Originally published as Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper wanted to play for AUNZ team against British and Irish Lions