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'Don’t do it': Sonny Bill Williams’ advice for SVNS-bound Michael Hooper

Michael Hooper of the Wallabies poses during the Rugby Australia media announcement at RACV Royal Pines on April 05, 2022 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper reached out to one of the greatest cross-code stars in the history of sport, that being Sonny Bill Williams, ahead of a headline-grabbing switch to sevens.

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Williams, who now works as a dual-sport commentator for Stan Sport in Australia, has retired after decorated careers in multiple codes.

Along with two stints in rugby league – including a brief stint with Toronto Wolfpack – Williams rapidly rose to superstar status in the 15-player game and was a boxer too. But Williams wanted more.

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The Olympics beckoned. Williams made the move to sevens in 2016 ahead of the Rio Games – the likes of Michael Hooper and Antoine Dupont are looking to do the same seven years on.

Looking to pick the brain of the two-time Rugby World Cup-winning All Black turned Olympian, Hooper asked for some advice: Don’t do it. That was Williams’ candid tip from one former 15s star to another.

“That didn’t fill me with a heap of confidence,” Hooper told The Sydney Morning Herald.

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“I haven’t spoken to a huge amount of guys (who have made the switch), but I do want to get a lot of information from the guys who do play sevens and I need to lean on them a lot. I want to pick their brains because it is a different game.”

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Rugby Australia confirmed last week that the Wallabies’ most-capped captain in history, Michael Hooper, will join the Australian men’s sevens squad in 2024.

Hooper is chasing a swansong finish to a glistening international career in Paris after missing out on the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup squad under coach Eddie Jones.

But it’s a bold move. The Australian sevens team have an established group to choose from but the appeal of potentially going to the world’s biggest sporting event was too good to turn down.

“There were offers throughout the year to go elsewhere and nothing sort of really pricked my ears up,” Hooper added.

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“I actually thought there’s the opportunity to play a different game and the opportunity of the Olympics at the end of it.

“Like, imagine doing an (Olympics) opening ceremony for Australia, walking out for your country would be pretty remarkable.

“I speak to the guys here and they’re talking about winning gold – that’s a motivated bunch of guys I can get around pretty easily.”

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1 Comment
J
Jon 398 days ago

Hooper is too stocky to be a 7s player

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SK 9 minutes ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

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JW 5 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

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