Hooper ruled out of Wales clash
Flanker Michael Hooper has been ruled out of Australia's World Cup clash against Wales on Saturday after pleading guilty to a charge of foul play.
World Rugby issued a statement a short while ago confirming the Wallabies' vice-captain suspension.
''The Wallabies will be without vice-captain Michael Hooper for its final pool game, after the flanker pleaded guilty to a Foul Play charge today,'' the statement read.
Hooper was cited for a 39th minute clean out on England fullback Mike Brown, under Law 10.4, which relates to charging into a ruck or maul without using arms.
The flanker was penalized at the time but not yellow carded for the incident.
''The judicial officer deemed the offence was on the lower-end, with a maximum two-week suspension but Hooper’s early admission and good behavioural record reduced that penalty to just the one week.
''Hooper will be available for the Wallabies quarter-final, against any one of South Africa, Scotland or Japan depending on the results of this weekend’s games,'' it read.
This means either Sean McMahon or Ben McCalman will be expected to fill the void left by Hooper.
(File photo: AFP)