Hooper returns for Australia's Northern Tour

Michael Hooper will return from personal leave to join the Wallabies on their northern hemisphere tour however he has not been reinstated as captain.

The 30-year-old has not played since he pulled out of the squad on the eve of the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in August.

Hooper did not specify the reasons behind his withdrawal but the Test centurion said he was not in the right frame of mind to play.

Coach Dave Rennie named a 36-man squad on Sunday that included Hooper, however he said prop James Slipper would continue as captain for the five-Test tour.

Rennie selected five uncapped players in the group, with Melbourne Rebels prop Sam Talakai and NSW pair five-eighth Ben Donaldson and outside back Mark Nawaqanitawase included for the first time.

Donaldson and Nawaqanitawase impressed in the Australia A program in Fiji and Japan alongside Jock Campbell and Langi Gleeson who are the other two players who could potentially debut in Europe.

Rennie has chosen two overseas-based players in the squad, with La Rochelle lock Will Skelton recalled after appearing in all three games off the bench in last year’s spring tour.

Japan-based five-eighth Bernard Foley, who made his return to the Test arena in the Bledisloe Cup series last month, is the other.

The side will kick off their campaign with a Test against Scotland in Edinburgh before their first match against France in Paris since 2016.

They then face Italy in Florence before Tests against Ireland in Dublin and Wales in Cardiff to round out their 2022 season.

The squad will assemble in Sydney on Tuesday before embarking on the five-game tour the following day.

“To have Michael back in the group is massive for our team on and off the field and we’ll continue to make sure that he has the support around him he needs,” Rennie said in a statement.

“We’ve got a massive opportunity over the next five matches to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the world and string together some performances that our supporters are proud of back home in Australia.

“It’s been really pleasing to continue to get game time into our players through the Australia A program and a number of those guys have been rewarded for their form with selection in the squad.”

WALLABIES SQUAD:
Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Banks, Jock Campbell, Ben Donaldson, Folau Fainga’a, Lalakai Foketi, Bernard Foley, Matt Gibbon, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon, Ned Hanigan, Reece Hodge, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway, Noah Lolesio, Lachlan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Fraser McReight, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Cadeyrn Neville, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Matt Philip, David Porecki, Tom Robertson, Pete Samu, Will Skelton, James Slipper (c), Sam Talakai, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Nic White, Tom Wright.