HIS chance to play at the World Rugby Under 20s Championships this year might have gone, but Tom Hooper could still find himself in a Junior Wallabies jumper.
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Hooper was named in the Junior Wallabies squad earlier this season and while he was not the only talented second rower on that list, he was keen to press his claims.
Initially as the coronavirus led to the cancellation of the Oceania Championships and World Rugby Under 20s Championships, Hooper thought he would have to wait another 12 months for his chance.
But now as social distancing restrictions are starting to ease, there is hope rugby will go ahead in some form from July.
For Hooper that not only means he could build on a stellar rookie season with the Tuggeranong Vikings, but may get to wear green and gold.
"Hopefully, a few of the boys can play some club footy if that gets the tick and then from a Junior Wallabies perspective, we're hopeful that maybe we can get a one-off game later this year," Junior Wallabies coach Jason Gilmore told rugby.com.au
"But worst case scenario if we don't play, we've got the squad to train-on around the 55-player mark and I don't think it will impede us too much."
Gilmore feels that what Hooper and his fellow squad members have endured with the shutdown also has a positive element.
"I think it helps build their resilience and mindset, training, to do it by yourself can get quite tough week after week and what it will give the boys once we're all through this, is they'll gain a lot of perspective and not take things for granted and hopefully that resilience will help them in life in general but also in rugby," he said.
Hooper's efforts for the Australian Schoolboys last October - they won the Trans-Tasman Shield with an 18-14 victory over New Zealand - helped him gain the attention of national selectors.
He attended a national camp and was placed on individual development plan.
Hooper also got the experience of training with the ACT Brumbies' Super Rugby squad for eight weeks in the pre-season.
