Ethan Hooker

Ethan Hooker
Full nameEthan Hooker
Born (2003-01-20) 20 January 2003
Westville, South Africa
Height1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) [1]
Weight100 kg (220 lb)
SchoolWestville Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position Center, Wing
Current team Sharks
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023– Sharks 16 (10)
2024– Sharks (Currie Cup) 4 (10)
Correct as of 14 December 2025
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023 South Africa Under-20 3 (5)
2025– South Africa 8 (10)

Ethan Hooker (born 23 January 2003) is a South African professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and for the South Africa national team.[2]

Early life

Hooker was born in Durban, South Africa, to Craig and Lorraine Hooker.[3] He attended Westville Boys’ High School, where he initially played as a loose forward before transitioning into midfield back roles.[4]

Despite his physical attributes, Hooker was not heavily recruited out of school. His coaches noted that although he trained consistently and showed strong temperament, he did not produce standout performances that typically attract professional offers, and no teams formally approached him in his matric year.[5]

The Sharks initially invited him to join the squad on a training arrangement without offering a full contract. After a short period impressing in the system, he was upgraded to a professional deal, marking the start of his senior career.[6]

Club career

Hooker progressed through the Sharks’ junior structures and featured for the team at age-group level during the 2022 season.[7]

He made his senior debut for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship on 7 January 2023, appearing against Connacht.[8]

Hooker was part of the Sharks squad that won the EPCR Challenge Cup in 2024 and started in the final, contributing to the franchise’s first European title.[9]

Later that year he also started the 2024 Currie Cup final, scoring a try as the Sharks defeated the Lions to claim the title.[10]

International career

Hooker represented the South Africa Under-20 at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship, scoring a try on debut against Georgia U20 on 24 June 2023.[11]

He made his senior Springbok debut on 12 July 2025, coming on as a substitute against Italy at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.[12] He earned his second cap as a replacement against New Zealand at Eden Park, before making his first Test start at right wing in the return fixture at Sky Stadium in Wellington.[13]

Hooker’s first run-on start was widely praised as South Africa secured a record victory in Wellington, with commentators highlighting his physicality and attacking presence.[14] Hooker scored his first test try for South Africa in their November 2025 test against Italy in Turin.[15]

Following his performances in 2025, Hooker was nominated for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award.[16]

Honours

Sharks
South Africa
Individual
  • World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year:
    • Nominee: 2025

Statistics

Test match record

As of 29 November 2025
Opponent P W D L Try Pts %Won
 Argentina 2 2 0 0 0 0 100
 Italy 2 2 0 0 1 5 100
 Japan 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
 New Zealand 2 1 0 1 0 0 50
 Wales 1 1 0 0 1 5 100
Total 8 7 0 1 2 10 87.5

International tries

As of 29 November 2025
Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  Italy Turin, Italy Juventus Stadium 2025 end-of-year test 15 November 2025 Win 14–32
2  Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2025 end-of-year test 29 November 2025 Win 0–73

References

  1. ^ "Ethan Hooker". All.rugby. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Ethan Hooker URC". UnitedRugby.com. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Why 'X-factor' Ethan Hooker could have 'quite the career' for Springboks". Planet Rugby. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  4. ^ "'When I was told I was playing wing I was very happy': Hooker on not being centre of attraction". News24. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  5. ^ "'When I was told I was playing wing I was very happy': Hooker on not being centre of attraction". News24. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  6. ^ "'When I was told I was playing wing I was very happy': Hooker on not being centre of attraction". News24. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  7. ^ "'When I was told I was playing wing I was very happy': Hooker on not being centre of attraction". News24. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Ethan Hooker debut". SuperSport.com. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Sharks confirm lineup for EPCR Challenge Cup final". EPCR Rugby. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  10. ^ Rich, Gavin (22 June 2024). "Currie Cup wrap: Griquas slayed their Goliath by forgetting the URC tags". SuperSport. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Smith steers Junior Boks to win over spirited Georgians". Springboks.rugby. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  12. ^ Jared Wright (10 July 2025). "Springboks team: Willie le Roux hits 100 as Rassie Erasmus makes 11 changes, issues four debuts". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Hooker gets first Test start". SA Rugby Magazine. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  14. ^ Mark Keohane (20 July 2025). "Hooker brings 'Metallica' to Bok hit list". SA Rugby Magazine. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  15. ^ Gavin Rich (16 November 2025). "Gutsy 14-man Boks defy refereeing incompetence once more". SuperSport. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  16. ^ Craig Ray (18 November 2025). "Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, PSDT up for 2025 Player of the Year". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
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