WALLABIES CAPTAIN MICHAEL Hooper has signed up to a “historic” five-year contract that will secure him through to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Rugby Australia announced today.
Hooper, a two-time John Eales medal-winner as Australian rugby’s best player, was due to be out of contract with Rugby Australia at the end of this year.
The massive deal with the New South Wales Waratahs flanker is worth close to Aus $6 million (€3.8 million), according to Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.
“I never really thought about going elsewhere or entertaining anything like that. I was really keen to stay in Australia, and keep doing what I can for the Wallabies and the Waratahs,” Hooper said.
“It’s a long deal so I have to thank Cheik (Wallabies coach Michael Cheika) and (Rugby Australia chief) Raelene Castle as well as the Waratahs for having the belief in me in that I can continue to contribute.”
The 26-year-old is the second Australian player to sign up to a five-year deal after Lote Tuqiri in 2007, although the Fiji-born wing’s contract was cancelled two years later over an alleged code of conduct breach.
The deal ensures that Hooper will be available for Australia for the next two World Cups — in Japan next year and in France in 2023.
“The length of the deal will be talked about but it’s fair reward for a player like Michael,” Castle said.
“He was upfront in signalling that he wanted to commit to Australian Rugby so we couldn’t be more pleased to have him remain until at least 2023.”
Australians based abroad are generally unable to represent their country, although the eligibility rules were relaxed in 2015 for senior players.
Those who have pulled on a Wallabies jersey more than 60 times and have held a professional contract with Australian rugby for at least seven years can now play abroad and for the national team.
The 82-Test veteran Hooper, who holds the record as the youngest-ever player to reach 100 Super Rugby caps, was the fifth-youngest player to captain the Wallabies when he replaced the injured Stephen Moore against France in 2014.
He was named as the retiring Moore’s replacement last year.
“I know Michael can see the huge amount of young talent in the game that is coming through at the moment and I am sure it’s a big part of why he would be committing to a long term deal,” Cheika said.
The announcement came ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks next week.
Hooper, who tore his hamstring in the final Test against Ireland in June, is confident he will be fit for the 18 August clash in Sydney after completing a full day’s training on Monday with the Test squad.
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I hope it can be bought online as it’s a long way to the Tipperary store.
Its a long long way to Tipperary…
Why dont Bulmers invest in LOI football!
That said i guess allot of bar-stollers drink Bulmers! All this money being wasted on foreign football! Invest in Irish football! Christ sake
As a Tipperary man I want one too
As an Irish man, I want one to.
You want one to what?
To wear of course!
Zoe, don’t know if you watch Family Guy but your comment reminds me of the Brian and Stewie “Over” scene. One of my favourites.
Two nil…
Love that Family Guy scene!!!
If anyone has a link of where to buy this I would be very grateful
You thirsty ?
peter forde a realy well liked and popular man around enniscrone in lovely sligo
NOT
zombie
Thanks x
Should have been “Club Orange” instead.
Club orange was sold by c&c to britvic about 5 years ago
#buzzkillington
Great advertisement for Tipperary, being a Dublin lass myself, Tipperary has lovely people with great Irish heritage… It’s a long way though :)
Well said Karen, Tipp folk are class…it’s not too far from Dublin….so visit & enjoy
Not so far now, I have been and shall be there lots, thanks to my bro in law.. Holy cross, class place
But Waterford is better, and closer
I strangely like it, wasn’t gone on the new design suited to fit around Magners but I recently saw someone wearing it and thought it looked pretty sharp.
Maybe they just looked really sharp anyway.
I make a bin liner look good, wearing one now.
Pictures or didn’t happen, Little Jim.
Alcohol sponsorship banned, but look at that, they still sold the space on the Jersey!
God forbid a business would try to do business and make money…!
Not sold, rather a different product from the same company. Not all alcohol manufacturers have other non-alcoholic products in their portfolio.
You did read the article, right?
That’s right Shanners…Football teams shouldn’t be paid sponsorship money!!! Nor should they collect turnstile or TV revenue!! Sure they can always pay their players in good-will!! Yeah, that’ll work jus fine!!
No they switched to another brand owned by the same company. Did you even read the article?
The same company moved another one of its products to an empty space they had already paid for.
Celtic fans are brainless thugs.
Bit of a generalisation there Michael, all football teams have some unsavoury fans. Celtic maybe a few more than most but the majority are grand.
That game is not even being aired here in Sweden tonight. Must be sour grapes over two weeks ago. Or maybe the other teams playing pull in more advertising revenue for the various broadcasting companies? Just a thought.
It’s looking early on anyway like a bad omen. 1-0 down but some of that Tipperary water might do them good!!!
More water!
Heard the next time it’s gonna be ” FOOTBALL SPECIAL “
SHOCKING MATCH
Have to get me one of those
Does this bring into the question of alcohol sponsorship and the Governments climb down?
After all if C&C can get around the advertising ban by simply switching logos, why cant other drinks companies not do the same? I mean how many times have we seen “Brought to you by blah” or “A wholy owned subsidery og Blah Blah”. Would sponsering non alcoholic drinks not also fit well with the Drink Sensible” promotion?
Eitherway I buying there jerseys for the kids.
However, never miss to collect the Celtic soccer jersey http://www.wysjg.com/celtic-c-1_72/
Celtic shirt such lines, has always been his own characteristics. This will not only different from other clubs, but also to maintain a sense of mystery.