The World Cup Wallaby has signed a contract with an English club as RA loses their second forward in as many weeks.

Two years after his Test debut, rising Australian forward Tom Hooper, who famously took on two All Blacks to secure his place in Dunedin’s 2023 World Cup squad, is the latest to sign for an overseas club. . .

roar It can be revealed that the 23-year-old will return to England later this year, just months after earning a recall to Joe Schmidt’s end-of-year Wallabies squad.

After starring for Australia A in early November, Hooper not only impressed hungry scouts looking for a versatile and hard-working striker, but also performed well enough to earn a recall to Schmidt’s Wallabies squad.

However, it would be the last time the Australian public would see him in gold as the Brumbies signed Exeter Chiefs, who captains fellow club veteran Wallaby Scott Sio.

Despite featuring under Joe Schmidt in 2024, rising Wallabies striker Tom Hooper is leaving for Exeter in the English Premier League. (Photo credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Like Montpellier-bound back-rower Langi Gleeson, Hooper was not seen at all in the Wallabies camp last week after signing for the rebuilding Gallagher Premiership side.

Hooper fell behind as a starter under Schmidt last year, but it is believed Rugby Australia wanted to keep Hooper in the game.

But as governing bodies try to reverse wage inflation, it has always been shaping up to be an uphill battle to keep the figures bigger than they really are. Especially considering that the Chiefs offered roughly double what RA was putting on the table to keep him.

Throw in the fact that Hooper has gone from Eddie Jones’ starter to Schmidt’s fringe and the Brumbies forward’s decision has become easier.

His departure will likely hurt more over time.

While Hooper is among the biggest bolters in 2023, the country boy still has years of growth left as he develops more strength.

But the 199cm, 120kg forward scored ahead of Damien McKenzie and Will Jordan in his third Test in southern New Zealand 18 months ago when he wore the No.7 jersey.

That eye-catching display sealed Jones’ place in the World Cup squad.

“I think the young ‘hoops’ have really improved over time,” Jones said at the time.

“If you look at the first Test against South Africa he was struggling to make tackles and by the end of the Rugby Championship he had made 20 tackles and was the leading All Blacks forward and that is the progress this team will take going forward. make.”

Tom Hooper dives to score against the All Blacks at Forsythe Barr Stadium in Dunedin on August 5, 2023. (Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)

One of Australian rugby’s biggest characters and cut from the same cloth as Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins, Hooper went from being gold material off the pitch in 2023 to virtually unheard of a year later.

His departure means his absence will be felt both on and off the pitch.

Several other Wallabies are strongly considering leaving Australian rugby despite the governing body’s hard-line stance to draw a line at players ahead of the Lions series if they decide to leave.

It is a risky play ahead of RA’s so-called ‘golden decade’.