Brumbies' Hooper Leads Charge Against British & Irish Lions

Tom Hooper, a loose forward for the ACT Brumbies, has been selected to play against the British & Irish Lions in Canberra on Wednesday. This comes despite his recent appearance as a replacement for the Wallabies against Fiji on Sunday.

The 11-test flanker, who is set to depart the Brumbies for England at the end of the current season, will be part of a team that includes several players from the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finalist squad. While missing some test players, the Brumbies are anticipated to provide the Lions with their most challenging match before the test series.

Historically, the Brumbies have proven to be a tough opponent for the touring Lions. In 2001, the Lions narrowly defeated the Brumbies 30-28, requiring a late conversion. Twelve years later, the Brumbies secured a 14-12 victory against the Lions at Canberra Stadium.

Hooper, lock Cadeyrn Neville, and hooker Lachlan Lonergan. The back three, consisting of Andy Muirhead, Corey Toole, and Ben O'Donnell, brings a combination of skill, speed, and experience. Ryan Lonergan, Lachlan's brother, will captain the team from scrumhalf. Lachie Hooper, Tom's sibling and also a loose forward, has been named on the bench, potentially making his Brumbies debut.

Coach Stephen Larkham expressed his excitement about the Hooper brothers' potential to play together. He highlighted the significance of the match against the British & Irish Lions, emphasizing the players' eagerness to contribute positively. Larkham, who was an assistant coach at the Brumbies in 2013 and played flyhalf for Australia in the 2001 series, acknowledged the challenge ahead. He noted that the team has been training for a few weeks and is aware of the opportunity to compete against the Lions.