Henry Speight

Ratu Henry Vao'ofu Speight (born 24 March 1988 in Suva, Fiji) is a Fiji-born Australian rugby union fifteens and sevens player who has played for Hamilton Boys' High School team (New Zealand), the Fijian national junior team (2008), the Waikato provincial team (2008–11, New Zealand), the Brumbies in Super Rugby (2011-2018) , and currently plays for Ulster in the Guinness Pro14 (2018-ongoing) and for the Wallabies (2014-ongoing). His playing position is wing or centre.

Henry Speight
Speight playing against New Zealand, August 2017
Full nameRatu Henry Vao'ofu Speight
Date of birth (1988-03-24) 24 March 1988
Place of birthSuva, Fiji
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight97 kg (214 lb; 15 st 4 lb)
SchoolQueen Victoria School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Current team Brumbies, Reds
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2011 Waikato 34 (40)
2011–2019 Brumbies 122 (230 (46t))
2014–2017 Canberra Vikings 5 (18)
2018 Ulster 12 (15)
2020– Reds 6 (15)
Correct as of 12 Mar 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007 Fiji U19 5 (25)
2014–2017 Australia 19 (20)
Correct as of 24 May 2019
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2015 Australia 2
Correct as of 24 May 2019

Early career

Speight's first taste of pro-rugby came in his final year at Hamilton Boys High School, when he was picked for Waikato, making his debut against the Bay of Plenty in 2008.[1] Speight went on to represent his province over four seasons.[2] Not eligible for the New Zealand Schoolboys, Speight represented his native Fiji in the same year at the Junior World Cup in Belfast.[3]

Super Rugby and Australia

Speight made his Brumbies debut during the 2011 Super Rugby season against the Chiefs[4] in Canberra. After becoming eligible for national selection, on 11 September 2014,[5] Speight made his Wallabies debut during the 2014 Spring Tour against Ireland.[6]

In early 2018 Speight signed with Australia for at least one more year. Speight has shown dedication to his Australian rugby even after huge contracts offered by foreign nations.[7]

He is the son of Fijian politician Samisoni Tikoinasau[4] and the grandson of former Fiji President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.[8]

He signed a short contract (August 2018) with Ulster and will stay until December as he is temporary replacement for the injured Louis Ludik. Has signed to qld reds until 2021 after the 2019 season. His first game was against his old team, the Brumbies where he scored a try officially making him the only player to have scored tries against all 18 (current and former) super rugby teams.

Super Rugby statistics
As of 12 March 2020[9]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2011 Brumbies1211183730001500
2012 Brumbies16151113780004000
2013 Brumbies18180137780004000
2014 Brumbies1111079830001510
2015 Brumbies17170131640002001
2016 Brumbies4402671000500
2017 Brumbies16160125670003500
2018 Brumbies14140107570003500
2019 Brumbies1414097650002500
2020 Reds66048030001500
Total128126295194900024511

References
  1. "Young Speight in long-awaited Mooloo debut". Stuff News. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  2. "Surprises in Waikato selections for NPC final". Stuff News. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  3. ACT Brumbies. "Henry Speight Bio". Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  4. Makaba, Josefa (16 February 2011). "Brumbies believe Speight's a threat". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  5. Henry Speight eligible for Wallabies from September
  6. "Ireland v Australia". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  7. Speight re-signs with Wallabies
  8. "President told Speight to play for Wallabies". Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  9. "Player Statistics". its rugby. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
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