Michael Hooper is arguably the finest Wallaby of his generation, and certainly one of the most durable. In 2010, aged just 19, Hooper made his Super Rugby debut for the ACT Brumbies against the Chiefs. In 2012, Hooper was selected for a Test debut before his 21st birthday in the one-off international played against Scotland in Newcastle and just two years later was thrust into the role as Wallabies captain after Stephen Moore ruptured both his anterior cruciate ligament and medial ligaments in the opening Test of the season against France. Hooper took over the captaincy permanently ahead of the Bledisloe Cup in 2017.
Highlights
2010
Selected in the Australian U20s squad for the Junior World Championship tournament in Argentina.
2011
Was named international player of the tournament playing for the Australian U20s in the World Championships, captaining the side against Fiji.
2012
Hooper debuted off the bench in the infamous loss to Scotland in Newcastle and played in 13 of the Wallabies’ 15 Tests. He was selected in the run-on XV for the first time against New Zealand in Auckland. Hooper won the Australian Rookie of Year and despite only appearing in less than half the polled matches placed a remarkable third in the John Eales Medal.
2013
Hooper played in all 15 Wallaby Tests including 14 starts at openside flanker. He streeted the field by more than 100 votes to win his first John Eales Medal.
2014
At 22 years and 268 days, Hooper became the 82nd Wallaby to captain his country, and the youngest captain since the great Ken Catchpole in 1961, replacing the injured Stephen Moore.. Hooper started all 14 Tests at openside and was captain in each of the last 13 internationals.
2015
Hooper’s run of 43 consecutive Tests was ended when he sat out Australia’s clash with the USA.. Over the course of the season, Hooper earned a further nine Test caps. He Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup semi-final against Argentina was his 50th Test, coming just three years and 142 days after his debut, the quickest in history.
2016
Hooper was picked as starting seven for 14 of the season’s 15 Tests. He joined George Smith, Nathan Sharpe and Israel Folau as a two-time winner of the John Eales Medal. As he did in 2013, Hooper won the prestigious award by more than 100 votes.
2017
Hooper started all 14 Tests at openside flanker and formally assumed captaincy of the side from incumbent Stephen Moore against New Zealand in Sydney. Hooper scored his fifteenth Test try, against Wales in Cardiff, to break the Australian all-time forwards’ record of 14 held by former captain Rocky Elsom and hooker Jeremy Paul.
2018
For the first time in his Wallaby career Hooper missed a Test due to injury. Ongoing hamstring troubles forced him to withdraw at the eleventh hour from the side chosen for the first Test against Argentina on the Gold Coast. That match aside, Hooper both started at openside flanker and captained the Wallabies in the remaining 12 Tests played throughout the year.
