Apr 27th, 2018

Apr 27th, 2018

Michael Hooper has reportedly been offered a five-year deal by Rugby Australia (RA) that would lock up the Wallabies captain through to the 2023 World Cup.

According to News Corp Australia, the long-term contract is the longest tabled by RA.

Shorter-term options are understood to be available to the NSW Waratahs skipper, who is off contract at the end of this year and would command a salary in the region of $1million a season.

The parties continue to negotiate with the 26-year-old Hooper believed to be keen to continue his playing career in Australia.

Hooper's bumper offer is likely to see him be the new face of rugby union in Australia following the recent saga that has soured fans' opinions towards Wallabies' household name Israel Folau.

(AAP) Photo: AAP

"I love playing rugby in Australia," he recently told News Corp Australia.

"It is such a great place to play rugby.

"There is a great talent pool and we have a lot of players coming up who are hungry to win, and that's something that is exciting."

Rugby Australia high performance boss Ben Whitaker hinted that Hooper's contract would be longer than those of other players.

"What I would say is that with a player like that, you want to see how you can engage in him in this environment for as long as possible and as long as he wants to, and as long as he is going to contribute at the top level," he said.

"We feel that is over a good couple of years to come."

©AAP2018