Exiled Wallabies captain confirms code switch

Exiled former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has jumped ship to rugby sevens.

Hooper, 32, was the most-capped Wallabies skipper before being unceremoniously dumped by then-coach Eddie Jones before a disastrous World Cup trip to France.

Jones has since left Rugby Australia, but it seems Hooper's career in the 15-man game is likely over after he was announced as the newest member of the sevens squad on Thursday morning.

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Hooper aims to play at the Olympic Games next year.

Having played professional rugby for 13 years, Hooper admits it might be a shock to the system.

"A lot of running. The most I've ever seen," Hooper told Nine's Today of his switch to sevens.

"That's a new challenge. I've done 15s for so long and played in the Wallaby jersey so long, but to play in a sevens tournament and potential to the go to the Olympics, it is exciting stuff.

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"It would be an amazing experience. There is so much water under the bridge to get into that environment.

"I've trained with these guys. They are hungry and can run forever.

"I'm one of the bigger guys in the team which is very unusual. It should be great."

Hooper – a four-time John Eales Medal winner – played 125 Tests for Australia in the coveted gold jersey.

He captained the Wallabies in 69 games, but was controversially dumped by Jones and not given a ticket to France, where Australia failed to make it out of the group stages for the first time ever.

Jones fell on his sword and quit his Wallabies job earlier this month, and has been heavily linked to the Japan coaching job.

Hooper will officially join the Australian sevens program in January and hopes to make his tournament debut in Perth over the Australia Day long weekend.