The Ospreys are looking to sign Wallabies forward Tom Hooper as they prepare for next season’s challenges
Swansea: The Ospreys are on the hunt for a big-name player, and it looks like Wallabies forward Tom Hooper is at the top of their list. They want to bring in some serious talent for next season.
With the team moving to St Helen’s, they’re eager to add an international star. Hooper, who can play both second-row and back-row, fits the bill perfectly.
There’s been talk about Adam Beard possibly heading to Montpellier, and with Justin Tipuric retiring to coach, signing Hooper makes a lot of sense.
Hooper just signed a one-year extension with the Brumbies last year. He’s been with them since 2021 and has played 38 games, showing he can adapt to different positions.
He made his debut for Australia in 2023 during a warm-up match against South Africa. Under coach Eddie Jones, he mostly played in the back-row.
In his second game against the All Blacks, he stepped in for Michael Hooper, and he even made it to the World Cup squad. He played mostly on the blindside during the tournament.
After the World Cup, he played for the Barbarians against Wales and had a couple of appearances for the Wallabies in 2024. He missed some summer Tests but did come off the bench against Georgia.
One thing to consider is Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt’s strict policy on overseas players. He’s been hesitant to pick players based outside Australia, which could complicate things for Hooper.
There are rumors that Schmidt has dropped Langi Gleeson from a training squad after he signed with Montpellier, which might hint at a similar fate for Hooper.
If Hooper joins the Ospreys, he’ll likely play as a second-row or blindside flanker. With Tipuric gone, it could allow Jac Morgan to take on the openside role more regularly.
On a positive note for the Ospreys, both Morgan and Dewi Lake are expected to stay with the club, which is great news for head coach Mark Jones as he builds his team.
