Michael Hooper makes huge career move after being controversially excluded from Wallabies coach Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad
Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper has taken a big step in securing a post-playing career in rugby by joining Stan Sport’s World Cup commentary team after Eddie Jones dropped him from the 33-man squad for the tournament left.
Hooper’s time in the Wallabies strip, which featured a whopping 125 Tests, is likely to be over after a persistent calf injury forced Jones to overlook the country’s longest-serving captain for a World Cup swan song.
Jones said he supported the youthful squad, 25 of which attended their first World Cup, because they ‘deserved it’ and was convinced the group could shock the world.
Stan Sport announced this week that the Wallabies’ most experienced captain of all time will join the studio team with presenter Nick McArdle, former Wallabies Mat Rogers, Stephen Hoiles and James Horwill, alongside Allana Ferguson and Wallaroos star Sera Naiqama.
“With the game’s most recognizable face, Michael Hooper, rounding out an outstanding lineup, Stan Sport has assembled a commentary team that will do justice to one of the world’s greatest sporting events,” said Stan Sports Director Ben Kimber.
Michael Hooper will be part of the all-star commentary team at this year’s Rugby World Cup
Eddie Jones controversially dropped the former Wallabies skipper and opted for a younger side
Losing the tournament was our viewers’ gain, with the former captain looking to add new insight to what is already the most comprehensive commentary line-up the game has ever seen. A huge tournament just got bigger for Stan Sport subscribers.’
On-pitch match coverage in France is led by Wallabies greats Tim Horan, Morgan Turinui and Justin Harrison, alongside All Blacks legends Sonny Bill Williams and Andrew Mehrtens.
Although left out of the Wallabies squad, Hooper reportedly hopes to play in Paris next year.
The 31-year-old is about to sign a new contract with Rugby Australia which could see him joining the sevens programme.
Hooper is keeping his options open and has long expressed a desire to play at the world’s biggest sporting event.
‘There are Olympics,’ Hooper said in May, before jokingly adding, ‘there’s rugby league. It’s a joke. I am an open book.
“I have not planned anything for next year. Looks like I’ve been under contract for a long time.
‘I’ve been contracted in Australia since the end of 2009, with a quick move to Japan there, but apart from that it’s all been in Australia.
The country’s longest-serving captain is reportedly interested in playing rugby sevens
The 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off on Saturday with New Zealand against France – and Hooper (pictured with wife Kate Howard) will be following the action closely
“I don’t know what the next will look like. It’s a nice position to be open to all aspects. That is to play or maybe not to play, have free time, whatever. I am a completely open book or start the next chapter.
‘I find it really exciting that I don’t know what I’m going to do.’
The Rugby World Cup kicks off on Saturday, with France taking on New Zealand. Coverage starts at 3:55am AEST live on Stan Sport.
Watch every World Cup match ad-free, live and on-demand in 4K UHD on Stan Sport