Hooper targeting titles after extending Exeter deal

Tom Hooper hopes he can win a Prem title with Exeter before he returns to Australia.

The 25-year-old flanker has extended his contract at the Chiefs until the summer of 2028 before agreeing a deal with Rugby Australia to return to his homeland.

He will join the Queensland Reds ahead of the 2029 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Hooper impressed in his first season at Sandy Park, helping an Exeter side that finished second-from-bottom in 2025 reach last month's Prem final at Twickenham.

Exeter were beaten 26-17 by Northampton in the final, but Hooper feels the squad has what it takes to win a third title for the Devon club.

"I think a three-year stint is a perfect amount of time to achieve some success over there," Hooper said while back in Australia before the Wallabies' Nations Championship game with France.

"I feel like two years probably would have only just been getting started.

"Whilst we made the grand final this year, we haven't even dipped the toe in in terms of the top European league.

"We haven't gone that whole way and won the Premiership, so I think three years is a good amount of time.

"It also came off the basis of how much I love that group at Exeter - a lot of key individuals, a lot of close mates of mine have re-signed for the exact same period.

"So we've got a core nucleus there in Exeter where we've all signed until that 2028 season, which is really exciting to be able to play with your mates."

• Hooper extends Exeter contract before Australia return

Hooper has won 23 caps for Australia and become one of their brightest hopes with a home World Cup to come in 2027.

Having begun his career at the Brumbies he moved to Exeter following last year's Rugby Championship as the Devon side looked to rebuild following their worst-ever top flight season.

He joined along with fellow Wallabies star Len Ikitau - who is returning to Australia after a one-season stint at Exeter - and Italy internationals Stephen Varney and Andrea Zambonin.

They helped inspire the Chiefs to a third-placed finish in the Prem before a dramatic semi-final win at champions Bath.

Hooper says he will return to Australia as a better player having learnt from his stint at Exeter.

"When I went to Brumbies I learnt plenty off Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper, and they were the guys that I'll cherish playing with them in a Brumbies jersey for as long as I play.

"It's a similar experience going over there, working with guys younger than me but Dafydd Jenkins, he's a really inspirational leader.

"Playing with guys like Henry Slade, Jack Yeandle, I've learnt plenty off them about leadership qualities, about how much they've got kids and families and they completely buy into the team culture.

"Also the professionalism, the extras they do after training, they just live in the gym, whether that's because the rain's coming in sideways or because they actually want to be in there, but they're always in the gym.

"I've just jumped on the back of that and worked really hard and I've felt like I've become more of an athlete because of that.

"It's a special group. I certainly have grown as a rugby player and I think I've grown as an individual as well."