The Ospreys are targeting a big southern hemisphere signing ahead of next season, with Wallabies forward Tom Hooper believed to be on their radar.

The Swansea side are keen to bring in an international-quality player ahead of their first season at St Helen's, with the 10-cap Australia international, who can play either second-row or back-row, understood to a target.

With Adam Beard linked with a move to French giants Montpellier and iconic back-row Justin Tipuric hanging up his boots to take on the role of defence coach, a move for the Brumbies forward would make sense.

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Hooper penned a one-year extension with the Canberra-based side last year, having made his debut for the Super Rugby side in 2021.

The 23-year-old has played 38 times for the Brumbies. Of his 19 starts, nine have been in the second-row, while the other 10 were on either flank - demonstrating his versatility.

His Australia debut came in 2023, in a World Cup warm-up against South Africa. Under Eddie Jones, Hooper largely featured in the back-row.

In his second cap against the All Blacks, he was tasked with replacing namesake Michael, having started alongside the 125-cap openside on his debut. Ultimately, he would go on to make the World Cup squad ahead of the other Hooper.

In the World Cup in France, Hooper largely featured on the blindside - but did start the 40-6 defeat to Wales in Lyon on the openside.

After the World Cup, he featured for the Barbarians against Wales in Cardiff, while he did play for the Wallabies on a couple of occasions in 2024. Having not played in either summer Test against Wales in Sydney or Melbourne, he did come off the bench against Georgia the following week, while he also made a cameo against the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.

During the autumn, Hooper didn't feature for the Wallabies, but did play for Australia A against England A.

What could prove a sticking point is Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt's strong stance on overseas players. Up until the recent autumn campaign, the former Ireland coach had resisted picking players based outside of Australia.

And there are now reports that Schmidt has uninvited Waratahs back-rower Langi Gleeson from a 40-man training squad ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour this month, after Gleeson agreed a deal to join Montpellier next season.

Hooper wasn't named in the training squad, which met up this month at Olympic Park. That omission could, of course, push Hooper closer to a deal abroad.

Were Hooper to sign for the Ospreys, it seems likely that he would feature either as a second-row or blindside flanker - with the retirement of Tipuric perhaps allowing Wales openside Jac Morgan to revert to wearing the seven jersey on a regular basis.

As an added boost for the Ospreys, it's understood that both Morgan and Dewi Lake are set to stay with the club.

The 2023 World Cup co-captains are both understood to have agreed deals to remain in Swansea, which will come as a boost to Mark Jones as he looks to make his mark as head coach.