Young Gun: Will Hooley – Northampton fly-half

As a young fly-half there aren’t many better mentors to learn from than Jonny Wilkinson – so Northampton‘s Will Hooley admits he has no excuse when it comes to learning the dedication required to reach the top.
The 19-year-old was one of ‘Jonny’s Hotshots’  – a BBC competition run back in 2005 while Wilkinson was in the middle of his post-World Cup injury hell and Hooley was just 11.
Hooley, now part of the England U20 set-up, clearly picked up a thing or two from England’s most famous ten, and is looking to follow a similar path.
He said: “It was fantastic to be picked on ‘Jonny’s Hotshots’. To learn off one of, if not the best, No.10 of his time in the world was just incredible. It was a great experience and one that I’ll cherish, I was privileged to be involved.
“It helps you realise the dedication he had to training and to the game, on and off the pitch – it was awe-inspiring. When he eventually hangs his boots up I can say I’ve had coaching from him which is great as he’s a true legend of English rugby.”
Saints’ No.3 fly-half isn’t short of mentors with Ryan Lamb and Stephen Myler training alongside him at Franklin’s Gardens.
That has helped him in his efforts for Saints in the A League this season, having helped the Wanderers – as their second-string team is known – to a semi-final spot before defeat to Saracens a fortnight ago.
Now he is looking to glean as much as he can from Saxons pair Lamb and Myler, and with such a contrasting duo, he admits there is a lot to pick up.
“The A League has been a fantastic experience, especially as I’m only in my second year in men’s rugby,” said Hooley.
“It was disappointing to lose in the semis but it’s a really good competition. It pushes you physically because it’s so fast-paced.
“Both Ryan and Stephen are very different players in their own right, and I’m trying to take things from both.
“Lamby is a very attacking threat and produces things out of nothing, while Stephen is a great kicker and practises very hard – I’m trying to take things on board from them both.
“I’m third choice and although I’m only 19 I’ve realised being at the club doesn’t mean you’re just an extra person, you need to push for their spot. I want to be playing week-in week-out in the Premiership and I respect the guys in front of me hugely.”
After being introduced to rugby at the age of five by his father Richard, Hooley began at St John’s College School and at the Leys School.
As well as his evident rugby talents, the Cambridge-born fly-half was also a decent cricketer and played for Cambridgeshire.
But after swapping spikes for studs at 13, Hooley received his first international call-up four years later, and hasn’t looked back since.
“I got called into the England U18s by head coach John Fletcher in my penultimate year at school which was an awesome experience,” he added. “We got to the European final where we lost to Ireland but the whole experience built me up.
“Big things can happen if you impress in the U20s – you only need to look at the likes of Joe Launchbury and Jonathan Joseph.
“You realise with the U20s that everything is not actually too far away – doing well puts pressure on other guys and brings the best out of everyone.”