Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Michael Hooper (R) in action against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in 2016

Former Australia captain Hooper announces retirement

Flanker Michael Hooper announced his retirement from international rugby on Sunday, a month after he was dropped from Australia's rugby sevens squad while dealing with an injury.

Rugby • 30 Jun 24

Eddie Jones lost patience with questions about his World Cup squad named last week and the manner of his communications with long-time captain Michael Hooper and out-half Quade Cooper

Aussie attack coach quits as Jones lashes out at media

Australia boss Eddie Jones has hit out at media criticism that he claims is dragging the country's nation's rugby down with "negativity".

Rugby • 17 Aug 23

Former captain Michael Hooper is a shock omission

Jones leaves Hooper out of Australia's World Cup squad

Head coach Eddie Jones has left long-time Australia captain Michael Hooper out of his 33-man squad for the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby • 10 Aug 23

Michael Hooper is expected to feature at a third World Cup for the Aussies

Hooper unclear as to Wallabies future beyond World Cup

Australia flanker Michael Hooper remains undecided on his playing future but doubts that it includes a Wallabies jersey beyond this year's World Cup.

Australia • 30 May 23

Nic White (right) said Michael Hooper (left) was in touch with his team-mates after their win over Argentina

White: No timeline on Hooper's Wallabies return

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is in good hands as he deals with wellbeing issues in Australia but there is no timeline on his return to the group, scrum-half Nic White said.

Rugby • 09 Aug 22

Hooper has played in 115 of Australia's last 122 games.

Hooper ruled out for Wallabies trip to Wales

Australia captain Michael Hooper has been ruled out of Saturday's Autumn Nations Series clash with Wales.

Rugby • 16 Nov 21

Michael Hooper and Australia have struggled badly against England in recent years

Hooper plays down 'inferiority complex' tag

Michael Hooper insists he will not be burdened for the renewal of Australia's rivalry with England by the "inferiority complex" that Eddie Jones claims drives his compatriots.

Rugby • 12 Nov 21

Scrum-half Nic White is promoted to the starting line-up

Australia make three changes for Springboks rematch

Australia coach Dave Rennie has made three changes for Saturday's Rugby Championship rematch with South Africa.

Rugby • 16 Sep 21

Hooper added that the Wallabies do not fear their opponents

Hooper wary of All Blacks despite fading aura claims

Australia skipper Michael Hooper is not buying into claims that this year's All Blacks team is a lesser force compared to those of the past and says the Wallabies need to focus purely on their own game in Saturday's Rugby Championship opener.

Rugby • 13 Aug 21

Michael Hooper is expected to play in Japan's Top League

Wallabies skipper Hooper to play abroad in 2021

Australian captain Michael Hooper will play overseas for the first six months of 2021 and miss most of the Super Rugby season.

Rugby • 26 Aug 20

Aussie skipper Hooper eager to avoid referee row

Australia captain Michael Hooper has insisted his side's World Cup focus has not been distracted by refereeing rows.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 04 Oct 19

Michael Cheika: 'We'll be a little bit unpredictable, that's been a little bit of our theme this year.'

Cheika expects the 'unpredictable' as he unveils squad

An upbeat Michael Cheika said he had no concerns about the fitness of David Pocock after naming the loose forward in his World Cup squad on Friday but the Australia coach would not be drawn on how he planned to use him.

Rugby • 23 Aug 19

David Pocock is recovering from a leg muscle injury

Aussie captain backs Pocock to play at World Cup

Australia captain Michael Hooper has backed flanker David Pocock to shrug off a calf injury and slot back into the Wallabies in time for their shot at a third Rugby World Cup title.

Rugby • 29 May 19

The Wallabies are coming off a disappointing third-place finish in the Rugby Championship as they face New Zealand this weekend

Hooper wants Wallabies to lay down All Blacks marker

The fate of this year's Bledisloe Cup has already been decided but Australia captain Michael Hooper wants his side to look at Saturday's clash with New Zealand in Yokohama as a chance to lay down a marker for next year's Rugby World Cup.

Rugby • 26 Oct 18

Hooper: Aussies pumped up for Ireland 'shootout'

Even in defeat Australia captain Michael Hooper says his side were not too far off the mark and is confident that they can make the necessary improvements to beat Ireland.

Rugby • 22 Jun 18

Dan Leavy will pose a different problem for Australia, according to their skipper

Leavy paints a 'different picture', says Aussie skipper

Dan Leavy will present a different type of threat to Australia when they face Ireland in the second Test in Melbourne, according to Michael Hooper.

Rugby • 15 Jun 18

Stander will win his 25th cap for Ireland if selected this weekend against Australia

Bullish Stander has sights set on resurgent Wallabies

While admitting Ireland weren't fully up to the pitch of the game against Australia last weekend, CJ Stander is expecting a much improved performance this weekend in Melbourne.

Rugby • 12 Jun 18

CJ Stander cuts a dejected figure at the end of the 18-9 defeat

Schmidt: We expect to be able to play within the rules

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt says he felt Ireland didn't get the rub of the green from the match officials in the 18-9 defeat to Australia in Brisbane, but praised the clinical nature of the Wallabies.

Rugby • 09 Jun 18

Australian captain Michael Hooper in action during the captain's run on Friday

Hooper: The Irish are very good at building pressure

Australian captain Michael Hooper insists his team are keen to run the ball against Ireland in Saturday's opening test in Brisbane.

Rugby • 09 Jun 18

Mike Brown (c) reacts to a dangerous challenge from Australia flanker Michael Hooper

Australia's Hooper cited for shoulder charge

Australia loose forward Michael Hooper has been cited for charging into a ruck shoulder first during the 33-13 Rugby World Cup victory over England at the weekend.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 05 Oct 15

David Pocock was inspired against New Zealand on Saturday

Cheika's plays pop Kiwis ahead of World Cup

It took Wallabies coach Michael Cheika three matches to get round to it but Australia finally got the back row it had been clamouring for when David Pocock and Michael Hooper started alongside each other in the victory against the All Blacks.

Rugby • 09 Aug 15

Michael Hooper will remain at the Tahs until 2018

Hooper signs new deal with ARU and Waratahs

Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper has signed a new contract with the Australian Rugby Union and the New South Wales Waratahs which will keep him at home until the end of the 2018 season.

Rugby • 11 Jun 15

Hooper is McKenzie's fourth Test captain since he replaced Robbie Deans in the job less than a year ago

Hooper to captain Wallabies in Moore absence

Michael Hooper has been elevated to the Australian rugby team's captaincy after hooker Stephen Moore was ruled out for the season due to a knee reconstruction.

Rugby • 09 Jun 14

Michael Hooper