Aussie Player Exodus

[Tomikin]

Hooper to depart Brumbies at end of 2025 season

brumbies.rugby

“I’m going to leave the Brumbies and try my best to become a better player, with a view to coming back to Australia and becoming an older, more experienced player later down the track, whenever that may be.”

Honestly, it's a bigger issue for the Brumbies than it is for the Wallabies; he was in a prime position to take over from Neville as the THL. But get after it, son. Go play heaps of rugby and come back as an absolute weapon.

Shaw and Hooper mark 2 are now in the box seat...

 

[Brumby Runner]

^^^^^ and Tuilima.

 

[Ignoto]

Sounds like the Brumbies should throw some money at Harry Hockings. Would plug that gap pretty well.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Sounds like the Brumbies should throw some money at Harry Hockings. Would plug that gap pretty well.

Hockings is Japan qualified now (so no restrictions on playing for his club) and one of the Sungoliath's key players. The Brumbies (or RA) don't have enough money

 

[Wilson]

Hockings is Japan qualified now (so no restrictions on playing for his club) and one of the Sungoliath's key players. The Brumbies (or RA) don't have enough money

*Unless Eddie scares him off (but that surely would've happened by now if it was going to )

 

[Dctarget]

Hockings is Japan qualified now (so no restrictions on playing for his club) and one of the Sungoliath's key players. The Brumbies (or RA) don't have enough money

Better pick would be Hosea, Philip, Staniforth (probably too expensive though too).

 

[Wilson]

Michael Hooper turning out for Toyota Verblitz for the rest of the season:

'Retired' Hooper reveals surprise return to pro rugby

'It's a bit of a Hail Mary'

www.nine.com.au

Need more of this from our retired players, taking up all the overseas opportunities so the current and future wallabies can't.

 

[Slim 293]

U20's captain Toby Macpherson will return to the Brumbies in 2026 after he has a year at Verblitz...

But with Hooper going, and Neville not far off they're going to have to work hard with RA to try and keep Frost.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I bet a guy like Hooper who I reckon would have kept his fitness up feels great with the time off since the first retirement. All those niggles they play with for year on year start to go away now and you think yeah why not.

He is a great player and even if hes 70% of what he was he's better than most you'll get on the open market. Probably a great price now as well for a Club.

Only disappointing this is he won't be part of the Super Rugby coverage. Thought he was a great addition to Stan/9.

 

[Wilson]

I bet a guy like Hooper who I reckon would have kept his fitness up feels great with the time off since the first retirement. All those niggles they play with for year on year start to go away now and you think yeah why not.

He is a great player and even if hes 70% of what he was he's better than most you'll get on the open market. Probably a great price now as well for a Club.

Only disappointing this is he won't be part of the Super Rugby coverage. Thought he was a great addition to Stan/9.

He will be back for the Lions coverage, and ideally he'll captain the combined Au-NZ side for a final send off in Australia

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Giteau is aiming to be picked in that team isn't he.

Dirty dawg. All for it

 

[LeCheese]

He will be back for the Lions coverage, and ideally he'll captain the combined Au-NZ side for a final send off in Australia

 

[JRugby2]

Sounds like the Brumbies should throw some money at Harry Hockings. Would plug that gap pretty well.

Hockings et al are (probably) great examples of the Overseas Player Paradox where all you have to do to become a Wallaby HoF'er is go overseas and make yourself ineligible to actually play for the Wallabies.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Playing hard to get. Never worked for me but works for Australian Rugby players.

 

[Derpus]

I don't really understand why Ikitau or McReight would leave now, of all times. They'll be on a tidy wicket through the Lions and RWC and, assuming strong performances from the both through those years, would be in prime position for some of the most lucrative contracts in world rugby afterwards. Not to mention they actually get to play in the two most prestigious rugby events (arguably).

 

[Slim 293]

I don't really understand why Ikitau or McReight would leave now, of all times. They'll be on a tidy wicket through the Lions and RWC and, assuming strong performances from the both through those years, would be in prime position for some of the most lucrative contracts in world rugby afterwards. Not to mention they actually get to play in the two most prestigious rugby events (arguably).

Theoretically, they sign lucrative contracts for the next couple of years, still get to play the Lions series as they're still contracted this year and too important to leave out, then return to Australia for the RWC...

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I hope it's building up their price that we should pay them.

Also, with contracts being on a freeze it's inevitable we speculate the worst.

 

[Wilson]

I don't really understand why Ikitau or McReight would leave now, of all times. They'll be on a tidy wicket through the Lions and RWC and, assuming strong performances from the both through those years, would be in prime position for some of the most lucrative contracts in world rugby afterwards. Not to mention they actually get to play in the two most prestigious rugby events (arguably).

They're talking about a 400k difference for McReight and Ikitau fielding offers over a million per year - they're already in prime position to sign some of the most lucrative contracts in world rugby, and will sacrifice significant lifetime earnings to stay.

 

[Derpus]

They're talking about a 400k difference for McReight and Ikitau fielding offers over a million per year - they're already in prime position to sign some of the most lucrative contracts in world rugby, and will sacrifice significant lifetime earnings to stay.

Surely we can afford to match a handful of 1m contracts?

 

[Strewthcobber]

I don't really understand why Ikitau or McReight would leave now, of all times. They'll be on a tidy wicket through the Lions and RWC and, assuming strong performances from the both through those years, would be in prime position for some of the most lucrative contracts in world rugby afterwards. Not to mention they actually get to play in the two most prestigious rugby events (arguably).

Are they leaving, or drumming up some OS offers to get a better deal out of RA?

Of course, at some point the premium on offer is going to be enough to accept an OS deal