Exeter confirm signing of Wallaby Tom Hooper

Exeter Chiefs have confirmed the signing of Australia back-row Tom Hooper, as reported by RugbyPass.

The 23-year-old will complete the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season with the Brumbies before making the move to the Gallagher Premiership.

The 10-cap Wallaby is the first Chiefs signing ahead of next season, as they look to rebuild after a disappointing season so far. He will link up with fellow Wallaby Scott Sio at Sandy Park, as well as former Brumbies team-mate Tamati Tua.

Hooper’s fifth and final campaign with the Brumbies will get underway against the Fijian Drua on February 15.

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While the move to England will curtail the versatile forward’s blossoming Wallabies career, he endeavours to return to Australia a “better player”.

“Across my five seasons as a Brumby, the club and Canberra have become my home,” Hooper said. “Unfortunately, with the changing dynamic of rugby, sometimes you must fly the coop. That’s what I’m going to be doing next year.

“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 director of rugby Rob Baxter added: “We’re 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’s 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’s also an interesting character and someone we’re excited to bring to the club to grow the team we want to put together going forward.

“Alongside our other young back five forwards, such as Dafydd Jenkins, Rusi Tuima, Greg Fisilau and Ethan Roots – the back five has the ability to be a really strong group that can build over a number of years.

“We’d like to see that all develop into becoming what I’d like to see as a dominant back five to the scrum in the coming seasons.”