Michael Hooper
Openside Flanker
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Profile
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Height:
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182cm
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Weight:
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101kg
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Date Of Birth:
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29/10/1991
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Place of Birth:
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Sydney
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Rugby Career
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Senior Club:
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Manly
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Stats
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Provincial Rugby Caps:
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42 [HSBC Waratahs 12; ACT Brumbies 30]
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Provincial Rugby Points:
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40 (8t), [Brumbies 25 (5t), HSBC Waratahs 15 (3t)]
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Provincial Rugby Debut:
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2010 vs Chiefs [ACT Brumbies]
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Super Rugby Caps:
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42 [HSBC Waratahs 12; ACT Brumbies 30]
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Super Rugby Points:
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40 (8t), [Brumbies 25 (5t), HSBC Waratahs 15 (3t)]
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Super Rugby Debut:
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2010 vs Chiefs [ACT Brumbies]
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Test Rugby Caps:
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13
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Test Rugby Debut:
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2012 v Scotland, Newcastle
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A product of the Manly Marlins, 21-year-old Michael Hooper returns home to Sydney for the 2013 Super Rugby season having become one of the hottest properties in Australian rugby.
Known for an incredible work rate and tenacity at the breakdown, the Wallaby newcomer made his Super Rugby debut for the Canberrians against the Chiefs in 2010. In 2011, he was awarded the Australian Under-20 Player of the Year award and, after a stellar 2012 season for the Brumbies, he went on to make his full international debut against Scotland in Newcastle in June.
Promoted to the Wallabies starting XV for the inaugural Rugby Championship in 2012 following an injury to David Pocock, the tenacious breakaway started the tournament with three Test appearances behind him, including a telling contribution off the bench during Australia’s critical 27-19 win over Wales in the first Test of what proved to be a clean sweep of the Six Nations champions.
One of the Brumbies’ best performers of last season, Hooper consistently topped the tackle count and proved himself as one of the competition’s best ball scavengers. Denied a shot at the Australian Schools side due to the requirement for shoulder surgery in his final year, the talented youngster was still snapped up by the Brumbies and slotted into the Brumby Runners development program in his first year out of school. The 18-year-old had only been in Canberra a few months when he made his Super Rugby debut during a win against the Chiefs at home in 2010, replacing the injured George Smith. Included in the Australian Under-20s for the first time later that year, he was unfortunate to miss the world championships in Argentina after injuring his ankle in a warm up game prior to the team’s departure.
Hooper bounced back from that disappointment to win a second call up to the Australian Under-20s for the world tournament in northern Italy. Although Australia missed out on a place in the final and had to settle for third, Hooper excelled and was rewarded with the Player of the Year award.
A former pupil at Chatswood’s St Pius X College, Michael is enjoying being back in the Northern Beaches’ suburb of Collaroy where he grew up and is looking forward to returning to the Manly club he first represented as a junior, alongside fellow HSBC Waratahs Tom Kingston and Greg Peterson. The move will also reunite reignite a partnership with his older brother Richard, a winger and the Manly Marlins’ leading try scorer for 2012. The two have played a handful of games together over the last four years, most recently the 2011 preliminary final loss to Sydney University.
Outside rugby, ‘Hoops’ is a keen surfer and enjoys regular trips to Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Next season will also see him resume his studies at Australian Catholic University, put on hold during his stint in Canberra, as part of plans for a career in marketing after the conclusion of his playing days.
Updated May 21, 2013