This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Michael Hooper has been unveiled as the new Wallabies captain, taking over from the veteran hooker, Stephen Moore, who announced last week he would retire from Test rugby at the end of the season.

Stephen Moore to quit Wallabies at the end of the year Read more

Hooper, who has already captained the side, will lead the Wallabies immediately with Australia facing the All Blacks in their Rugby Championship opener in Sydney on 19 August.

He said he the prospect of leading the Wallabies against their old trans-Tasman rivals was exciting.

“It’s a huge honour to just wear the Wallabies jersey, let alone captain the side,” Hooper said. “I’m extremely grateful to Cheik [coach Michael Cheika] but also to Steve [Moore] for all that he’s done for me and the team.

“It’s what you do in the jersey that’s most important and I get another crack at showing what it means to me against New Zealand in Sydney in a fortnight.

“There are quite a few good young leaders in this team like Bernard [Foley], Adam [Coleman], Samu [Kerevi] and Allan [Alaalatoa], so we’ll be working together to take this team to a new level.

“I’m really excited about what we can achieve in the next four months. It is a very special opportunity for all of us, and we’ll be doing all we can to show that pride in the jersey.”

The pressure will be straight on Hooper who many believe should not be an automatic selection at No7 when champion flanker David Pocock returns from a 12-month rugby sabbatical next year.

The 25-year-old Hooper has endured a difficult Super Rugby season with the under-performing NSW Waratahs and his leadership of the side and form has come under question.

Pocock, 29, has captained the Wallabies and could emerge as a candidate to lead the side if Australia struggle in the Rugby Championship ahead of the 2019 World Cup.