Michael Hooper explains why he turned down chance to play for England
Rugby NewsFriday, 11 November 2022 at 21:20
Here are five well known international rugby players who turned down an England call-up down the years.
Three of the players on the list turned down current boss Eddie Jones while the other two rejected his predecessors Stuart Lancaster and Martin Johnson.
Bloody treason if you ask us…
#1. Michael Hooper
- Major teams Australia Under-20s, Brumbies, New South Wales Waratahs, Australia
- Position Flanker
- Coach rejected Martin Johnson
Following a number of standout performances at the Junior U20 championship in 2010, there were reports that the standout back-rower was a transfer target for Leicester Tigers.
The RFU were reportedly involved in the bid as Hooper would have been eligible to play for England as his father, who played for Blackheath, is from England, Kent.
However, he'd end up signing a new deal and has since won 121 caps for the Wallabies. If only, eh?
Hooper said: "I've always considered myself a proud Australia. Even my Dad now supports the Wallabies now,"
DID YOU KNOW? His very rough playing style have led Hooper to collect eight yellow cards in his international career, matched in this unenviable record only by the georgian Viktor Kolelishvili
2. Joe Marler
- Major teams Barbarians, British and Irish Lions, England Saxons, England Under-20s, Harlequins, England
- Position Prop
- Coach rejected Eddie Jones
The loosehead prop has turned down numerous call-ups from Eddie Jones down the years, starting in 2016. He turned down a place on the tour to Australia following the infamous ‘Gypsygate’ saga, where he was fined £20,000 for his racial abuse of Wales rival Samson Lee. He then recently pulled out of the 2021 Six Nations squad in order to spend time with his family.
DID YOU KNOW? Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees
3. Cameron Redpath
- Major teams Bath Rugby, England Under-20s, Sale Sharks, Scotland
- Position Fullback, Centre
- Coach rejected Eddie Jones
In 2021, The Bath and Scotland centre turned down the chance to be part of England's shadow squad for the 2021 Six Nations - instead accepting a full call-up from Gregor Townsend. Two weeks later he made his influential debut as the Scots recorded a historic 11-6 win at Twickenham.
DID YOU KNOW? Bryan Redpath's nickname as a player was "Basil" and whilst at Sale his son was given the nickname "boom boom" as a result due to the association with the children’s television character Basil Brush
#4. Louis Rees-Zammit
- Major teams Gloucester Rugby, Wales
- Position Wing
- Coach rejected Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones knew from an early stage the 20-year-old was a talent worth courting. The wingers clinical finishing has been underlined by a haul of four tries in six Wales appearances, including two in the recent victory over Scotland. Jones rang Rees-Zammit in early 2020, but he told the Aussie that he was only interested in playing for Wales.
DID YOU KNOW? The exciting Gloucester youngster has been timed at 11.1 seconds for 100m
5. Ross Moriarty
- Major teams British and Irish Lions, Dragons, England Under-20s, Gloucester Rugby, Wales
- Position Back-row
- Coach rejected Stuart Lancaster
Moriarty, born in the rugby league hot-bed of St Helens, played alongside current England internationals Maro Itoje and Charlie Ewels, plus new Wales centre Nick Tompkins, when England Under-20s lifted the World Cup back in 2014. However, despite an approach to play for the senior team, Moriarty insisted he was Welsh and has since won 44 caps for the men in red.
DID YOU KNOW? During the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship, Moriarty won the tournament with England with impressive performances throughout the whole tournament.
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