Ex-Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper is coming out of retirement to play for Japan's Toyota Verblitz after receiving a call from former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, he said on Wednesday.
Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper is set to lace up the boots once again - joining Steve Hansen’s Toyota Verblitz side in Japan.
— The Roar (@TheRoarSports) January 15, 2025
The move has even come as a surprise to the man himself.
NEW BEGINNINGS: https://t.co/ZXvIGhGK1l pic.twitter.com/wjbULpyai7
The 33-year-old played the last of his 125 tests in 2023 before being unceremoniously axed by then-coach Eddie Jones ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
He turned to Rugby Sevens but called time on his playing career in June after missing out on selection for the Paris Olympics, working as a commentator since.
Hooper, who captained the Wallabies a record 69 times, told Australia's Channel Seven he had signed with Verblitz for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
He played for the club in 2021.
"It's a great club, really good people and competitive," Hooper said, adding that he got a call from Verblitz coach Hansen after Springboks legend Pieter-Steph du Toit was sidelined by injury.
"There wasn't too many places I would have really been keen to play, and this was right up there because I had such a fond memory from being up there a few years back," said Hooper.
"Really lucky, to be honest, and thankful for Steve Hansen to give me an opportunity."
Hooper told the broadcaster he was fit and free from injury but needed to put on some muscle.
"There is still a little part of me that would like to see if I could mix it again," he said on why he was returning.
"It's a bit of a Hail Mary that we didn't see coming. There was some discussions a while back but this has really developed in pretty much a week's time."
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— All Things Rugby (@AllThingsRugbyX) January 15, 2025
Former @wallabies captain Michael Hooper, now 33, has officially come out of retirement to sign a short-term deal with @LeagueOne_JP side @toyotaverblitz! 🏉✨ He will reunite with a talented Verblitz squad coached by Steve Hansen and Ian Foster, alongside… pic.twitter.com/StLhTPpJ4C