Aussies Abroad: Hooper dominates Japan as Koroibete makes successful return from injury


Mon, Mar 17, 2025, 10:00 PM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Michael Hooper scored and got several turnovers in Japan. Photo: JRLO
Michael Hooper scored and got several turnovers in Japan. Photo: JRLO

With the Six Nations wrapping up this week, the overseas club competitions were on their final week of break before returning for an action-packed finish to the season.

However, the top division in Japan was still in full flight whilst there was an Australian in the thick of the English Premiership Cup Final.

Watch every game of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.

Rugby.com.au presents the best of the Australians overseas in 'Aussies Abroad'

Japan

Wallabies legend Michael Hooper crossed for his first try in League One action but was unable to inspire Toyota Verblitz to victory.

Hooper scored in the 30th minute to spark Verbltz’s comeback against Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.

Following this, he had three turnovers and a team-high 16 tackles, two dominant tackles, in the 33-22 defeat after a two-try haul to Richie Mo’unga.

Fellow former John Eales Medalist Marika Koroibete successfully returned from injury and played for the first time since the 2024 Bledisloe Cup series.

He played 73 minutes in a 22-17 defeat to Shizuoka BlueRevs for the Wild Knights.

In other games, Bernard Foley inspired Kubota Spears from 22-0 down to a 33-22 win over Samu Kerevi’s Urayasu D-Rocks.

Foley had eight points, two line break assists and a try assist in the comeback win, with Kerevi crossing for the opening try in the 11th minute.

Paddy Ryan and Liam Gill got the job done for BlackRams Tokyo over Matt Philip’s Yokohama Canon Eagles in a 27-20 win.

Gill recorded three line break assists and a try assist whilst Ryan played a strong 68 minute stint in the front-row.

England

Scott Sio crossed for Exeter in the Premiership Rugby Final but was unable to inspire the Chiefs to the title as they went down to Bath.

With the Chiefs down 14-7 after 32 minutes, Sio caught Bath napping at the ruck, carrying two defenders over the line as he reached out to score.

Sio also had a line break assist but the result turned into a blow out as Bath ran away with the win.

The former Brumby could only watch from the sidelines as the Chiefs conceded 24 straight points after his subbing to go down 48-14.

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