Michael Hooper is on course to potentially clash with Antoine Dupont at next year’s Olympic Games after Rugby Australia confirmed that the ex-Wallabies skipper will be part of his country’s men’s sevens squad in 2024.
In this week alone we have seen former Australia captain Michael Hooper and France captain Antoine Dupont switching codes from 15-man format to sevens rugby to play at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
For some, this might come as a surprise but hey, let’s not forget that with the Rugby World Cup has passed and for many players, this could be the last chance to win some silverware before they retire.
Especially for players like Michael Hooper who missed out on the World Cup and look set to turn out for Australia after the thought of retirement, moving overseas also comes into mind.
Michael had those options in mind and decided to pick sevens as he looked to make the best out of it.
“The transition is something I have thought a lot about and I’m extremely motivated by the challenge of playing Sevens and trying to earn my way into this team”, says Michael.
“I didn’t think I’d be here.” Michael Hooper opens up on playing for the Aussie 7s and the possibility of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris 🙏
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For the French rugby captain Dupont, it’s an act of desperate redemption as he wants silverware from another major competition.
He is set to miss next year’s season of Six Nations to prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
For the Frenchman, he is looking forward to being at the Olympics after he first opened the door to the event back in 2016.
“It’s highly motivating. It’s incredible when you see the enthusiasm it can create. There is a desire from my side to put things in place for me to participate”, says Dupont.
A host of other leading 15-a-side players have featured in the last Olympic Games including South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe and former New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams, who have both won the World Cup twice.
Fiji have won the two men’s gold medals since seven-a-side rugby was introduced into the Olympics with the longer format of the sport having last featured in 1924.
