Queensland poach Wallabies star - but he won’t play until 2029
The Queensland Reds have landed the services of Wallabies star Tom Hooper, but he won’t lace up his boots for them until the 2029 Super Rugby season.
Hooper fronted a press conference in Brisbane on Wednesday to discuss the news, a day after he was ruled out of the Nations Championship Tests against France and Italy with a shoulder injury.
Tom Hooper passes during a Wallabies captain’s run at Allianz Stadium. Getty Images
The 23 Test flanker/lock - who started his professional career at the ACT Brumbies - will continue at the Exeter Chiefs until the end of England’s 2027-28 Premiership season before taking up a deal with the Reds which runs until the end of 2030.
Hooper, 25, has emerged as one of Australia’s best and most important players and was named in the 2025-26 Premiership team of the season.
“We’re delighted to welcome Tom to the Reds,” Queensland high-performance boss Sam Cordingley said.
“While it will be a few years before we see him in a Reds jersey, he’s another world-class player we can build our squad around.
“In planning for the future, we’re confident Tom’s decision to join the Reds will be a catalyst for retaining and recruiting players over the next few years.”
The Bathurst product - who came off the bench in Saturday’s loss to Ireland - was thrilled to have his future secured while Rugby Australia boss Peter Horne was equally chuffed.
“Tom’s return to Australian rugby is a real coup for all supporters of the game in this country,” Horne said.
“He’s someone who works incredibly hard on his craft and has already shown the impact he can have at the highest level.”
Meanwhile, the Junior Wallabies’ title hopes are over at the under-20 world championship in Georgia.
Australia lost 34-29 to France as two yellow cards proved costly.
Reds star Treyvon Pritchard was electric at inside centre, scoring a try while running for nearly 200m and 11 tackle busts.
Brad Fittler’s son Zach started outside him in the No.13 jersey in a team also featuring multiple Wallabies family connections.
World Rugby boss Brett Robinson’s son Tom is the captain while Michael Brial’s son Toby and Nick Farr-Jones’ nephew Tom also started in Kutaisi.
