Rugby (File/Mainichi)
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has come out of retirement to join injury-hit Toyota Verblitz for the remainder of the Japan Rugby League One season, the club announced Monday.
The 33-year-old flanker answered an SOS call from former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen, who is seeking to get Toyota’s campaign on track in the absence of injured South African superstar Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Hooper, a veteran of 125 tests for Australia, played for Toyota in 2021 during the Top League era after captaining his country at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
He played his last test match in 2023 before being dropped ahead of the Rugby World Cup by then Australia coach Eddie Jones, who has since taken the helm of the Japan national team.
“I’m very thankful to Toyota and Steve for the opportunity to come and play at a club I have such great memories of,” Hooper said in a statement from Toyota. “I’m very excited to contribute to a great team and looking forward to arriving soon.”
Reigning World Rugby Player of the Year du Toit has been sidelined since before the start of the League One season in December.
Toyota, whose star-studded squad also includes former All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith, have struggled to a record of one win, one draw and three losses, and sit ninth in the 12-team top flight.
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