Australia back-row forward Tom Hooper signs for Exeter

LONDON: English Premiership club Exeter on Tuesday announced the signing of Australia back-row forward Tom Hooper, who will arrive ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Hooper, who plays for the Canberra-based Brumbies, has won 10 Test caps and was part of Australia´s 2023 World Cup squad. The 23-year-old will link up with former Brumbies team-mates Scott Sio and Tamati Tua at Sandy Park.

“With the changing dynamic of rugby, sometimes you must fly the coop. That´s what I´m going to be doing next year,” said Hooper. “I´m going to leave the Brumbies and try my best to become a better player, with a view to coming back to Australia and becoming an older, more experienced player later down the track, whenever that may be.”

Exeter rugby director Rob Baxter said: “We are delighted to have signed Tom. A young international who is a big, abrasive back-five forward, we see him having the opportunity to play across our back row, but cover second row as well.

“He has got a lot of the attributes that are really important in Premiership rugby -- high work-rate, along with good physical size and good physical abilities. “He is also an interesting character, and someone we are excited to bring to the club to grow the team we want to put together.” Exeter are struggling in the English Premiership during the current season, ninth in the 10-team table after 10 games.