[1] Born in Exeter, Hooper played basketball at county level until he was 16, before opting for rugby on his move to the specialist sports campus at Ivybridge Community College.

Hooper broke into the Saracens team whilst still a teenager and played alongside Frenchman Abdel Benazzi in the second row.

[3] In June 2005 Hooper was called up for England Saxons against France and was part of their Churchill Cup success in Canada.

Ahead of the 2022–23 season, South African coach Johann van Graan signed a long-term contract to join Bath.

[9] However, after Bath's historic 64-0 loss to rivals Gloucester Rugby near the end of the 2021–22 season, a restructuring of the club's leadership took place.