Tom Hooper's Exeter Adventure: A Rugby Revelation
From the moment you spend a few minutes with Tom Hooper, Exeter Chiefs' Australian flanker, his infectious joy is undeniable. He's thriving in his first season with the team, and it's clear he's found a home away from home.
Hooper, a key summer signing for the Premiership club, is one of the players who has brought a spark to a team that underperformed last season. Alongside fellow Wallaby Len Ikitau and Italian duo Stephen Varney and Andrea Zambonin, Hooper has injected international flair into a squad already featuring talents like Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Greg Fisilau, and Henry Slade.
"Coming into this environment has been so easy," Hooper shared with BBC Sport before a European Challenge Cup match against Cardiff Blues. "I feel like I'm just back playing with my mates. It feels a lot like home which is really special, and as you've seen it's a special group and we're doing a lot of good things on the field."
Exeter has a rich history of welcoming Australians. Dean Mumm, Dave Dennis, Greg Holmes, Lachie Turner, and Nic White have all made their mark in Devon. Scott Sio, a former Australia prop, offered Hooper valuable insights, while scrum-half Nic White, who spent two-and-a-half seasons at the Chiefs, also provided crucial guidance.
"He was always speaking very highly of this place," Hooper says of White, who he first played alongside as a teenager with Super Rugby's Brumbies in 2021. "So it was always kind of on the wish list, on the bucket list to try and tick off playing here at some stage. I actually didn't think it was going to be so early in my career, but I'm so blessed that they came looking for me and I just knew it was a pretty easy answer once a few things got aligned."
A New Challenge in the Premiership
Hooper is quickly adapting to the demanding Premiership season. Exeter is currently third, with 50% more wins than their entire total from the previous season, where they finished near the bottom. He highlighted the quality of the competition, and how it has pushed him to improve as a player.
"I knew it was a quality competition and I wanted to better myself as an individual and as a rugby player," he said. "Coming here, not just the ferocity of the games on the field, but I guess the challenges off field in terms of improving myself as an athlete in the gym, on the training park, it's been great. I've loved how everyone goes about their business over here, whether that's us or our competition that we're facing. I'm loving the standard that it's forcing me to rise to."
International Ambitions and the 2027 World Cup
Hooper's performances have earned him a regular spot in Australia's back row. He started all six of their Rugby Championship matches last year and featured in two Tests against the British and Irish Lions.
But here's where it gets controversial... The Wallabies' selection policy favors players based in Australia. This could mean Hooper might have to leave Exeter to secure a spot in the squad for the 2027 home World Cup.
Hooper views this situation with optimism. "I've always said that there's only positives to come out of this and right now I'm taking this opportunity at Exeter with two hands," he explained. "If that results in an extended stay here, then so be it and I'm playing for my country and everything's going well, but if it results in me heading back home, that's also a positive because it gets me closer to my family."
He added, "For me I'd kind of hit my ceiling in Australia, I wanted to experience a new competition and I wanted to face different oppositions, different coaching and I've gone and done that now and that's tracking in a positive direction for me. I can't see myself moving on unless there's another growth for me to be had, so right now I'm really settled in my decision. I'm really happy with being here, but I'm not saying that I won't return to Australia because that might be the best place for me at the time."
The Pursuit of Glory
Regardless of how long Hooper stays at Exeter, his focus is on winning. The Chiefs are performing well in the Premiership, achieving victories at challenging venues like Saracens and Sale. They've suffered only two narrow defeats away at Bath and Bristol. After four seasons outside the play-offs, Exeter appears to be returning to the form that impressed in the late 2010s, and Hooper is aiming for silverware.
"If we can get to those big games, the final of the Challenge Cup, final of the Prem Cup, final of the Prem, and we can perform at a high quality level and leave absolutely everything, just absolutely ring the last drop of sweat that we have left in our bodies into those three competitions, I think we can finish the season with our heads really high. I genuinely think that we have the group that if we do that, we'll be coming away with a lot of silverware. That's all you can ask. If you look at this group, what's really special about it is boys just put in for each other week in, week out, and if we can end that season just absolutely drained, like the petrol tank's absolutely empty, I think we'll be very proud of efforts."
And this is the part most people miss... Hooper's move to Exeter isn't just about playing rugby; it's about personal growth, embracing new challenges, and building a strong team spirit. He's found a place where he can thrive both on and off the field, and his positive attitude is a testament to his character and commitment.
What do you think about the Wallabies' selection policy? Do you think Hooper should prioritize playing in Australia to secure his place in the World Cup squad, or should he continue his successful run with Exeter? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
