Former Australia skipper Michael Hooper makes sevens switch ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has confirmed a switch to the sevens game ahead of the Paris Olympics.

The 32-year-old was axed shockingly from the World Cup squad by head coach Eddie Jones due to repeated injury concerns. However, the Wallabies side had a dismal performance in the showpiece event in France as they exited from the competition in the opening round.

With his future in the 15s uncertain, Hooper said he will be featuring in the newly-revamped global sevens series as a preparation for the Paris Olympics that kicks-off in July. Hooper has been capped 125 times for the Wallabies and captained them on 69 occasions.

“The transition is something I have thought a lot about and I’m extremely motivated by the challenge of playing sevens and trying to earn my way into this team,” Hooper said in a Rugby Australia statement.

“I’ve started making a few changes to my training in preparation and can’t wait to get started in January.

“The transition is something I have thought a lot about and I’m extremely motivated by the challenge of playing sevens and trying to earn my way into this team.

“I’ve started making a few changes to my training in preparation and can’t wait to get started in January.”

Australia have already secured an automatic qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics by virtue of their fifth-place finish in the World Sevens Series earlier this year.