Wallabies star Michael Hooper reveals reasons for mental health break from Australian rugby union

Ex-Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper has finally returned to the squad for the Spring Tour after taking an extended mental health break, revealing the ‘rollercoaster of emotions’ he’s endured in a storied 121-Test career had taken their toll.

The 30-year-old made his professional rugby debut more than 12 years ago, so it is no surprise he announced he was stepping away from the Aussie side for a mental health break in August. 

He’s Australia’s longest-serving Wallabies captain and only four-time player of the year, but after a two-match break he’s finally returned to the squad for the five-Test spring tour.

Speaking for the first time since suddenly exiting the Wallabies team camp on the eve of Australia’s opening Rugby Championship fixture against the Pumas in early August, Hooper revealed he’d sought ‘all types’ of help from family, friends, sports therapists and professional counsellors.

Ex-Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper announced he needed a mental health game in August, but is now set to return to the field in gold and green in the spring tour

But for a man lauded for his incredible toughness, durability and no-nonsense manner, asking for help was just as tough as putting his frame in the way of a rampaging All Black.

‘As a younger man, I viewed asking for help as, I guess, a bit of a weakness. You want to feel like you have it all worked out and I certainly didn’t,’ Hooper said ahead of the Wallabies’ spring-tour opening Test against Scotland on Saturday.

The 30-year-old singled out his wife Kate for her unwavering support, admitting he’d struggled to balance the demands of being a new father with life as a travelling rugby star.

Michael Hooper, pictured with now-wife Kate Hooper, admitted his life has changed a lot as he has aged

‘I’ve been playing the game for a long time, had some great changes in my life happen this year and there were a lot of things running through my head showing up in Argentina, and Argentina wasn’t the place where I needed to sort these things out,’ he said.

‘I wanted to be around family. I wanted to be in a place where I could put the time in to those things that I needed to put in.

‘That doesn’t mean that I’m sitting here now completely cured. It’s not like that at all. At that point in time, I needed to be somewhere else. That wasn’t Argentina.

‘I know that’s quite vague but, yeah, I’m still getting my head around it. It’s not that long ago,’ said Hooper.

Telling Wallabies coach Dave Rennie he wanted out was among the most difficult conversations Hooper said he’s ever had, but a big part of pulling out is because he is clearly someone that can never give anything less than 110 per cent every time he steps on a footy field.

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‘I have high expectations of myself and pulling out of a game is certainly right up there with something I couldn’t see myself doing. Of course it was hard,’ he said of his chat to Rennie to tell him about stepping away.

‘It came around suddenly … the beautiful thing about rugby, and the hard thing about all sport, is there’s always the next goal so that you can move on and you can move on quick.

‘It was probably exacerbated being overseas away from home but certainly where I’m at, in my career and things like that, you start to look at post-rugby. I’ve got a family now.

‘So there’s a lot (more) elements now than being a 22-year-old and pretty much being concerned about yourself and I think that played into it,’ said Hooper.

Michael Hooper, pictured at the Rugby Australia awards in 2019 with wife Kate, needed to take a break from rugby to be around his family

The 64-Test Wallabies captain said he was 100 per cent behind new skipper James Slipper.

There are no plans for him whatsoever, for the moment at least, to take the captaincy back while he finds his feet again in Europe during the spring tour. 

Hooper also stopped short of committing to play in next year’s World Cup – which would be his third –  with just enjoying rugby again his chief concern.

‘I’m excited. I’m excited to be back – at this stage. I’m also realistic knowing that last time I was in here it didn’t quite work out,’ he said.

‘So I’m back putting myself in this position because I want to be here. I’ve got some great support around me and I’m realistic that there’s going to be some really good days, and days that the realities of travel and rugby and stuff are difficult.

‘But I think that’s part of the whole journey. Part of doing what we do is that whole rollercoaster,’ said Hooper.

A rejuvenated Michael Hooper is now set to return to the field for the Wallabies after a tough period

After a bitterly disappointing end to the Rugby Championship which included the controversial loss in the first Bledisloe Cup match; Rennie will be looking to solidify his preferred line-up and work on combinations ahead of the World Cup. 

Saturday’s match against the ever-improving Scots will give the Wallabies a good gauge on what pairings need to improve, before a tough Test looms against World no. 2 France on November 6.