Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper will make his rugby sevens debut in Perth in January after being included in the Australian men’s squad. After being left out of the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup campaign, the 125-Test veteran now has his sights set on a spot in the sevens team for the 2024 Olympics. Hooper will miss the first two rounds of the World Sevens Series in Dubai and Cape Town and will make his first appearance in the third round in Perth from January 26-28. The 16-man Australian squad named on Tuesday will use the season to prepare for the Paris Olympics in July. Nick Malouf has returned as captain, while Henry Hutchison and Ben Dowling are aiming to secure a spot for the Olympics. Hadley Tonga and Henry Palmer are among the new exciting prospects in the squad. Coach John Manenti has expressed his excitement about the group. The Australian men finished fifth in the 2022-23 standings, with New Zealand crowned champions.
