stadiumMK hosts matches including France versus Canada, with Samoa another side who will feature in the three games to be played at the venue in September and October 2015.
And Hooley, who joined ER2015 ambassador Will Greenwood, Canadian international James Pritchard and MK Dons player George Baldock at Milton Keynes’ SnoZone at an event to mark the two-year countdown to the start of the tournament, says that the World Cup will be a great experience for players and fans alike.
“It’s massive,” he commented. “As a young boy playing rugby the World Cup is the ultimate dream. It might be too early for some of us in our careers, but to come and watch it will be fantastic and a great experience.”
Hooley was part of the England Under-20 squad which won the IRB Junior World Championships for the first time in June, and while the fly half acknowledges that the main event may come too early in his own career he says that a place in the World Cup squad is an ambition for everyone who lifted the JWC trophy.
“Everyone in the Under-20s squad would love to play in the World Cup after winning those Junior World Championships,” he added. “We showed in the summer that as an Under-20 group we can take on the world, and the fact that England played Wales in the final, with both beating New Zealand and South Africa in the semi-finals, showed that northern hemisphere rugby is very good. And for us with England it was a great achievement.
“But while 2015 will be a bit too early for me, I still want to push myself on as a rugby player at the Saints.”
The Saints Academy youngster, who originally hails from Cambridge, has played all his rugby in the Eastern Counties and East Midlands, and he says that having Milton Keynes as a host city is an opportunity that supporters should take advantage of.
“All Saints fans are massive rugby fans and you want to see the world play rugby,” Hooley said. “The fact that it’s pretty much on our doorstep means that it’s going to be very accessible and I’m sure it’s going to be a great atmosphere with plenty of Saints fans coming to watch.”
To learn more about Rugby World Cup 2015 and to register for news, ticket and volunteer information visit www.rugbyworldcup.com/frontrow
