Tom Hooper's ACT Brumbies experience helps him earn Junior Wallabies selection

The Bathurst native began the year as a member of the ACT Brumbies full-time squad, the talented lock one of five academy graduates promoted to the program.

It meant he got to train and learn from some of Australia's leading rugby talents - a number of the Brumbies being in the Wallabies squad. He worked hard, soaked up the knowledge an impressed the coaching staff.

Hooper earned five caps for the Brumbies, coming off the bench in their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman matches.

He felt his work with the Australian under 20s squad helped him reach that level and conversely, his efforts for the Brumbies will see him make his Junior Wallabies debut in a two-Test series against New Zealand in July.

"I think being around the 20s scene the last few years has helped a lot of us to make that progression into Super Rugby," Hooper said.

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"My development this year has probably been a 70-30 split with off field stuff and on the field. I've learned so much off the field with guys like Cadeyrn Neville and Darcy Swain showing me the ropes and being under quality coaching.

"So it's been a real blessing for me to have that sort of coaching and the mentors from the senior team as well.

"It has boosted my confidence massively them backing me in the last five games, especially against New Zealand opposition. That was extraordinary and I was super stoked with the minutes I got being a young pup in the squad.

"The 20s coaches were really supportive, they we sending me messages of congratulations week in and week out, so it's really good to have a coaching staff like that on both ends whether it be Junior Wallabies or the Brumbies."

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