‘I am closer to the end’: Why Hooper aims to make most of rugby return

“This has almost forced me to not run, forced me to avoid that sort of stuff. Coming back to running, hitting little milestones, doing acceleration – stuff you usually take for granted – has been really nice in these last couple of weeks.

“Time away has been really important for my head … just to have some time at home base with my wife, being around some friends I haven’t seen in a while. But as the season starts to wind around the keenness is certainly popping back up, seeing the guys play and everything like that.

“But this was put in back then to give me a great 18-month shot at playing my best rugby, but particularly come 2023 [the next World Cup].”

Hooper contracted Covid-19 over the New Year period but said he had experienced “mild” symptoms and had not observed any lingering side effects as he stepped up his training ahead of a return to play.

“I’ve pushed myself in ways that haven’t impacted my foot and it’s been fine. I’ve been able to start surfing and get on those assault bikes, which are my best friend at the moment. It hasn’t been too bad.”

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Not due back until the end of March, five or six rounds into the Super Rugby Pacific season, the Waratahs will be counting down the days until their breakaway’s arrival. Hooper won the Matt Burke Cup – the Super Rugby equivalent of the JEM – in 2020 and conceded he’d found it hard to watch his team slump to historic lows last year.

“It’s tough being away and seeing the team not be able to perform,” he said.

“When I’m gone the next time, which isn’t too long away, I want to be able to work with some players to develop their game and be able to be a part of the Waratahs having continuing success going forward. I’ve been thinking a lot about that during this break time.”

Halfback Jake Gordon is favoured to captain the Waratahs for a second season.