Australian international flanker Tom Hooper has expressed strong interest in extending his tenure with Exeter Chiefs beyond his initial two-year contract, contingent on his continued development as a professional rugby player. The 25-year-old Wallabies forward, who joined the Premiership club last year, made these revelations following his impressive return from a two-month knee injury during Exeter’s recent victory over Sale Sharks.
Hooper’s transition to English rugby stems from his belief that he had ‘hit his ceiling’ in Australia and required fresh challenges to advance his career. ‘I’m loving my rugby here,’ Hooper stated. ‘I didn’t just come over here for one reason – a few stars really aligned for me. If I’m being challenged as an athlete and as a person and I’m still growing in those areas, then this is the best place for me.’
The Australian’s commitment to Exeter comes with significant World Cup implications. With Australia hosting the global tournament later in 2026, Hooper acknowledges the competitive selection landscape. Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has indicated preference for home-based players, creating additional motivation for Hooper to excel in the northern hemisphere.
‘My manager and I sat down face to face and I said ‘do you back me?’ He said ‘yes,’ and then I said ‘awesome, I’ll back myself,” Hooper recounted regarding his decision to move abroad. ‘I just said ‘all right, well, it’s a pretty clear objective for me, I’m just going to make sure that I make you pick me.’
Hooper’s immediate focus remains on Exeter’s playoff push, with Saturday’s victory propelling the Chiefs back into postseason contention. This represents a remarkable turnaround for a squad that finished second-from-bottom last season with only four league victories. Hooper believes the team’s previous struggles have forged the resilience needed for playoff success.
‘We know how to live in dark places,’ Hooper noted. ‘When it comes to play-off periods and really tight-knit games, you’ve got to have a group that’s willing to take it to a dark place, live there and come out the other side – and I think we’ve got a group that’s definitely willing to do that.’