Tom Hooper: ‘Sometimes you’ve just got to suck up a little bit of pain’ as Exeter forward settles in Devon
Exeter forward Tom Hooper discussed coping with injury, adapting to life in Devon and Australia’s World Cup prospects in comments published on 30 October 2026 as he prepares to face England next week.
A long line of Australian players have made Exeter their home, including Dean Mumm, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Scott Sio, Greg Holmes, Julian Salvi, Ben White, Mitch Lees, Lachie Turner and Len Ikitau, and director of rugby Rob Baxter said: "They seem to like the pasties and the cider." Baxter added: "Maybe Exeter and Devon is more like Australia than anywhere else in England. There’s plenty of open space and we tend to be a relatively old school type of club. The Australian guys really seem to like that environment." Hooper is the club’s current resident Wallaby.
Hooper, from cattle farming stock in rural New South Wales, said: "I love Guinness" and reflected on his childhood appetite around Bathurst: "I was always going to be a meat eater, that’s for sure," adding, "Getting tucked in to the sausage sizzle with my little brother at our local rugby club was always a good way to get our fill." He acknowledged initial nerves when he arrived in Exeter a year ago but said: "I’ll be honest, when I first came here I thought the international players were going to be wankers. But they weren’t at all ... they were the loveliest, most humble guys. You feel so welcomed in this environment." On the weather he said: "And the other thing I’ll say is that the British weather’s not that bad. You can deal with it. It’s only one or two months of the year. I’ve only had one winter, though. I’ll see how this one goes."
Hooper revealed a Cornish ancestry and a taste for free diving: "My family heritage is actually Cornish. Way, way back before we get sent out on the boats," and "I go free diving a little bit with a few of the boys." Asked where, he said: "I can’t let you know my diving spot, mate. But there’s plenty of places; the whole coastline is absolutely beautiful." On his living arrangements he said he was "right in the centre of town" and that his landlord, whom he calls "grandad", looks after him.
Despite enjoying life off the field, Hooper stressed his rugby focus, noting a fractured shoulder blade suffered against Ireland last July and the toll of long-haul flights, and describing rehab as beneficial: "Spending a little bit of time in rehab was a blessing in disguise. It gave me a little bit of time off to strengthen the rig and get back into it over here." Reflecting on workload he said a young version of himself would be pleased to play professionally: "A lot of people allude to how much rugby I play but if I look back to 12-year-old Tommy Hooper running around for Bathurst Bulldogs, he’d be pretty happy playing 30 games [a year] as a professional rugby player. Sometimes you’ve just got to suck up a little bit of pain and push through it."
The 125kg (19st 9lb), 6ft 6in tall Hooper has so far won 25 caps for the Wallabies and described the frustration of watching New Zealand play when he was not involved: "It’s strange watching when I’m not injured. We had training at the same time as the game so I was trying not to see the score. Then I walked into Sandy Park, turned right into the brekkie room and the score was on the telly. I think I let out a few profanities. The boys knew I wasn’t happy."
On Australia’s prospects he said: "Our squad on paper is looking really strong for that World Cup. Then it’s just about having an individual onus on work rate and doing your job for the team. I think the Wallaby back row, whether that’s the starters or the finishers, are bringing that in spades. And if we can get front foot ball, we’ve got some electric guys out wide. Get everyone on the field and firing and I think we’ll go a long way. It would be great to bring a buzz for the sport back into our nation." He rated England’s Tom Curry, saying: "The work he does off the ball is really underrated," and added: "I hear a lot from [my] good friend Josh Kemeny at Northampton about how their team works." He also commented: "I think England are very similar to Australia in terms of the squad depth they possess. When everyone’s fit they can be one of the best teams in the world. So, yeah, it’s an exciting prospect to be facing them first off."
Hooper spoke about family and community roots, praising his 22-year-old brother: "He’s an absolute freak, he will be better than me," and recalling country values and giving back: he said country kids often say "please" and "thank you" and that he frequently gives his boots away after games. He described his parents' involvement in his rugby development, saying Mum and Dad met at a rugby field, Dad coached them through juniors and that when the family moved to Canberra his parents were "on the road to watch us." He also noted meeting his partner on a rugby field when she was playing for the Brumbies’ women’s team.
He remains adamant, nevertheless, that "Australia, injuries permitting, can be a threat when they host next year’s Rugby World Cup," and he is preparing to face England next week.