Henry Speight

Ratu Henry Vao'ofu Speight (born 24 March 1988) is a Fiji-born Australian professional rugby union player. He currently plays for the French club Biarritz.[1] Speight was previously with the Brumbies and Queensland Reds in Super Rugby, and has represented Australia with the Wallabies and national sevens team. 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 and Hamilton Boys' High School
Notable relative(s)Samisoni Tikoinasau (father)
George Speight (uncle)
Josefa Iloilo (grandfather)
Kavu Iloilo (grandmother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Current team Biarritz
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2011 Waikato 34 (40)
2011–2019 Brumbies 122 (230)
2014–2017 Canberra Vikings 5 (18)
2018 Ulster 12 (15)
2020 Reds 7 (15)
2020–pres Biarritz 24 (20)
Correct as of 20 Feb 2022
International career
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 life and career

Henry Speight is the son of Fijian politician Samisoni Tikoinasau[2] and the grandson of former Fiji President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.[3] He was born in Suva, Fiji, where he attended Queen Victoria School before moving to New Zealand for his final years of high school.

His 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.[4] Speight went on to represent the province over four seasons.[5] Not eligible for the New Zealand Schoolboys, Speight represented his native Fiji in the same year at the Junior World Cup in Belfast.[6]

Super Rugby and Australia

Speight made his Brumbies debut during the 2011 Super Rugby season against the Chiefs[2] in Canberra. After becoming eligible for national selection, on 11 September 2014,[7] Speight made his Wallabies debut during the 2014 Spring Tour against Ireland.[8]

In early 2018 Speight signed with Australia for at least one more year, showing his dedication to Australian rugby despite offers of contracts by foreign clubs.[9]

After signing a short deal in late 2018 with Ulster as a temporary replacement for the injured Louis Ludik, he returned to the Brumbies for the 2019 season before joining the Queensland Reds for the 2020 season. Speight's first game was against his old team, the Brumbies. He scored a try in that match to officially make him the only player to have scored tries against all 18 (current and former) super rugby teams.

Speight then moved to France on a 3-year contract with Biarritz Olympique.[1]

Super Rugby statistics
As of 12 March 2020[10]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2011Brumbies1211183730001500
2012Brumbies16151113780004000
2013Brumbies18180137780004000
2014Brumbies1111079830001510
2015Brumbies17170131640002001
2016Brumbies4402671000500
2017Brumbies16160125670003500
2018Brumbies14140107570003500
2019Brumbies1414097650002500
2020Reds66048030001500
Total128126295194900024511

References
  1. "Reds release Wallaby Speight to Biarritz". The Canberra Times. 14 June 2020. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021.
  2. 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.
  3. "President told Speight to play for Wallabies". Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  4. "Young Speight in long-awaited Mooloo debut". Stuff News. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  5. "Surprises in Waikato selections for NPC final". Stuff News. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  6. ACT Brumbies. "Henry Speight Bio". Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  7. Henry Speight eligible for Wallabies from September
  8. "Ireland v Australia". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  9. Speight re-signs with Wallabies
  10. "Player Statistics". its rugby. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
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