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Former Australia captain Michael Hooper has retired from international duty after his hopes of appearing at the Paris Olympics ended.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 32-year-old, who captained the Wallabies a record 69 times in his 125-Test career, transitioned from 15-man rugby to sevens after being frozen out of the side<\/a> by Eddie Jones following the 2023 World Cup.<\/p>\n But Hooper has decided to immediately step down from playing for his country after failing to gain a spot in Australia’s sevens team for the Olympics in July. <\/p>\n “What a ride! My Olympic journey has come to an end, and with it, my Australian rugby career,” Hooper said in a statement on Instagram.<\/p>\n “To the Aussie Sevens team, I wish you all the best, you’ve been an awesome, helpful, and talented group of athletes to be part of.”<\/p>\n Hooper added his “incredible journey” with Australia had been “filled with unforgettable experiences, challenges and memories”.<\/p>\n Hooper made his Test debut in 2012 against Scotland, at the age of 20.<\/p>\n He became Australia’s youngest ever captain in 2014, aged 23, and helped guide the Wallabies to the Rugby Championship a year later.<\/p>\n Hooper was part of the team that finished runners-up to New Zealand at the 2015 World Cup. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n