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Early season surprise: Michael Hooper sheds captain's armband
By Online Editors
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has stood down as skipper of the NSW Waratahs, with Test lock Rob Simmons taking over the job.
Openside flanker Hooper, who has been fulltime captain of the Tahs for the past four seasons, still intends to make himself available to be Wallabies skipper, a role he has held since August 2017.
Utility back Kurtley Beale is the Tahs new vice-captain.
Hooper said he had been thinking about his decision for around 18 months and had question marks about continuing to captain the Waratahs as well as the Wallabies.
"Doing both roles for some time it would be remiss of me to say it doesn't have a taxing effect," Hooper said.
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"There's much more than just running out on the park, leading the team out on the weekend
"There's performances of teams that weigh into it, there's the media, all my friends.
"Having to speak every week is tough and trying to get the message right and represent the team as best as possible.
"A big part of it is I've got another four years here and I want to make that four years really special and take my personal game and leadership to another level."
Asked about the Wallabies captaincy Hooper said "that's a fair way away, but my thoughts around that have not changed.
"I still think I've got a lot of growing in myself, my gameplay and my captaincy.
"Those are conversations that (new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie) and myself will be having I'm sure in the future."
Rennie watched Hooper and the Waratahs train on Wednesday.
Queenslander Simmons, who is in his third season with NSW after captaining the Reds during his time there, said: "I asked for some time to think about it and consulted the people I wanted to consult, in particular, my family, and came to the decision that I would like to do the job."
- AAP
The Waratahs have managed to secure the service of Rebels outside back Jack Maddocks:
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Latest Comments
I think it was a better rugby destination for him.
He was developed in Melbourne and had a relatively brief stint there. I think he was possibly dropped out of the squad for the return of someone like To'omua (also a Melbourne local) in 2019 ahead of the RWC. But then he wasn't picked up by another Australian team and went to play in Japan when he only really seemed to play a hat full of top level games (maybe injured for long periods??) before he went on to Scotland. But it was only in Scotland that he started to get a lot of consistent game time and selection.
The thing is, no one talked about him being a missed opportunity in Australia before he left - a little like Mac Hansen. But he has been able to forge a top level career since leaving. Both men only had a handful (5 or 6?) games at Super Rugby level before they made a decision to leave (or had it made for them I suppose). Other countries have gone on to develop them and that is great for them and it is probably good for the global game as it means the best players are rising to the top - if not in their birth country than in another. I think there are a lot of issues with poor player development in Australia but I don't know if these two blokes are very good examples of it.
Go to commentsOk I understand. Give them my number please Nick.
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