The heartbreaking reason Wallabies great Michael Hooper could miss the Olympics after Eddie Jones ruined his World Cup dream

Michael Hooper may face second heartbreak in a 12 months as a groin damage threatens to jeopardise his bid to compete on the Paris Olympics.

Wallabies nice Hooper, 32, was brutally overlooked of Eddie Jones’ Australian squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, with the outspoken coach opting to prioritise youth over expertise.

The marketing campaign ended disastrously, with the Wallabies being eradicated within the pool phases and Jones transferring to Japan, whereas Hooper turned his again on rugby union.

Nevertheless, his hopes of competing on the Paris Olympics are doubtful because the veteran is affected by osteitis pubis. He has been overlooked of the lads's squad for subsequent week's World Sevens Collection Closing event in Madrid, which might have been an awesome alternative for Paris to cement his place within the crew.

As an alternative, Hooper will face a race towards time to be match for choice on the finish of June.

Michael Hooper may miss out on a spot on the Paris Olympics

Hooper has confirmed himself to be a dependable participant whereas enjoying in Hong Kong, and had strengthened his probabilities of breaking into the nationwide crew earlier than his newest setback.

Australia coach John Manenti admitted the timing of Hooper's damage was not preferrred nevertheless it didn’t imply his Olympic desires had been fully over.

“We needed to decide [for Madrid] – There's a lot he can't run quick sufficient that he clearly has to do,' Manenti mentioned. 'We thought we'd maintain him again just a little bit. We've bought friendlies towards Fiji in a few weeks, and we'll name him again with the intention of letting him free on the market and make one final push to try to pressure a spot within the crew.

'He's been working actually laborious, sadly this damage is because of overuse and comes primarily from operating. The operating load we've given him, and his velocity, is greater than he's been required to do for a very long time.

'He's accomplished it [osteitis pubis] 'I've accomplished it earlier than in XVs nevertheless it's a kind of issues the place should you don't handle it you might be in bother for a very long time.'

Hooper was at an occasion in Sydney on Wednesday the place he was launched as a commentator on the Olympics for Stan Sport, however he was fast to level out that his most important objective is to compete, not commentate.

The Wallabies nice has suffered a again damage and his place within the crew is uncertain

Manenti added: 'He's doing all the things he can, he's progressed very well from his first event to his second.'

'He nonetheless has lots to be taught; the toughest factor is that he’s so influenced by what he has been doing his complete profession and we are attempting to encourage him to do one thing completely different. It's not simple, so that you want time.

'However he has already began to indicate indicators of progress [his injury]We’re going to get him able to race once more and get him prepared once more, and provides him each probability to carry out nicely for the ultimate choice trials in Fiji.'

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