Will Hooley

Will Hooley
Full nameWilliam John E. Hooley
Date of birth (1993-11-28) 28 November 1993 (age 31)[1]
Place of birthCambridge, England
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight196 lb (89 kg)
SchoolThe Leys School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Youth career
Cambridge
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2015 Northampton Saints 16 (80)
2013–2015 Birmingham Moseley 14 (84)
2015–2017 Exeter Chiefs 14 (23)
2017–2020 Bedford Blues 49 (323)
2020—2021 Saracens 10 (26)
2022— San Diego Legion 0 (0)
Correct as of 25 December 2020
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 England U20 3 (24)
2018– United States 18 (28)
Correct as of 3 October 2021

William John E. Hooley (born 28 November 1993) is a former rugby union player who played fly-half for the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR) and the United States.

Hooley previously played for the Northampton Saints, Birmingham Moseley on loan, Exeter Chiefs, Bedford Blues and Saracens Rugby Club.

Hooley also previously represented England at the international level with two age-grade sides, winning the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship.

Early life

Will Hooley was born in Cambridge,[2] and grew up playing for Cambridge Rugby Club mini and youth level teams.[3] Hooley attended St John's College School[4] and The Leys School, and began playing at the academy level with the Northampton Saints.[2]

Club career

Hooley played for Bedford Blues having signed for them from Exeter Chiefs for the 2017-18 season.[5][6] In March 2018, it was announced that Hooley had signed a one-year contract extension with the Blues, through the 2018–19 season.[7] Hooley joined the Exeter Chiefs from fellow Premiership team Northampton Saints in 2015, making his debut against Clermont Auvergne in the European Rugby Champions Cup.[8]

He signed for Saracens ahead of the 2020–21 season.[9]

International career

England under-18 and under-20 teams

Hooley first represented England at the international level playing for the England national under-18 rugby union team.[2] In 2013, he represented England in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship[10] and was part of the winning team in the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship.

USA Eagles

In 2018, Hooley was named to the United States national rugby union team, with whom he qualifies through his American grandmother, for the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship.[11] Hooley made his debut for the Eagles on 3 February 2018, appearing as a substitute, in an uncapped 17–10 victory over Argentina XV.[12][13] Hooley earned his first cap for the Eagles on 10 February 2018, again appearing as a substitute, in a 29–10 victory over Canada.[14]

References

  1. ^ "WILL HOOLEY". USA Rugby. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Street, Tim (1 March 2018). "Cambridge's newest rugby international on switching from England to the USA Eagles". The Cambridge News. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Fraser Dingwall and Will Hooley earn international selection". Cambridge Independent. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  4. ^ Verdier, Nick (5 January 2013). "Young Gun: Will Hooley – Northampton fly-half". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  5. ^ HOOLEY AND PACKMAN HEAD TO BEDFORD
  6. ^ Will Hooley - Exeter Chiefs
  7. ^ "Hooley signs Bedford Blues extension". Americas Rugby News. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  8. ^ Will Hooley: Exeter Chiefs sign Northampton Saints fly-half
  9. ^ "Will Hooley signs for Saracens". Saracens. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  10. ^ England U20s name 2013 IRB Junior World Championship Squad
  11. ^ "Hooley Brings Experience To The Eagles", This Is American Rugby, 5 January 2018.
  12. ^ "USA defeat Argentina XV in ARC thriller". Americas Rugby News. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Will Hooley". USA Rugby. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Americas Rugby Championship - Sacramento, 10 February 2018, 15:00 local, 23:00 GMT". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved 27 September 2018.