Henry Speight
Full nameRatu Henry Vao'ofu Speight
Birth date24 March 1988 (age 38)
Birth placeSuva, Fiji
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight97 kg (214 lb; 15 st 4 lb)
SchoolQueen Victoria School and Hamilton Boys' High School
RelativesSamisoni Tikoinasau (father)
George Speight (uncle)
Josefa Iloilo (grandfather)
Kavu Iloilo (grandmother)
PositionWing
Years 12008–2011
Clubs 1Waikato
Apps 134
Points 140
Years 22011–2019
Clubs 2Brumbies
Apps 2122
Points 2230
Years 32014–2017
Clubs 3Canberra Vikings
Apps 35
Points 318
Years 42018
Clubs 4Ulster
Apps 412
Points 415
Years 52020
Clubs 5Reds
Apps 57
Points 515
Years 62020–pres
Clubs 6Biarritz
Apps 624
Points 620
Years 72024–pres
Clubs 7Wests
Clubupdate20 Feb 2022
Repyears 12007
Repteam 1Fiji U19
Repcaps 15
Reppoints 125
Repyears 22014–2017
Repteam 2Australia
Repcaps 219
Reppoints 220
Repupdate24 May 2019
Repsevensyears 12015
Repsevensteam 1Australia
Repsevenscomp 12
Ru sevensupdate24 May 2019

Ratu Henry Vao'ofu Speight (born 24 March 1988) is a Fiji-born Australian professional rugby union player. Played for Biarritz 2020 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. He is currently playing for Wests in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition. His playing position is wing or centre.

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]

In 2024, Speight joined Wests for the Queensland Premier Rugby competition.[10]

Super Rugby statistics

[11]

SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
20111211183730001500
201216151113780004000
201318180137780004000
20141111079830001510
201517170131640002001
20164402671000500
201716160125670003500
201814140107570003500
20191414097650002500
202066048030001500
Total128126295194900024511

References

  1. ^ "Reds release Wallaby Speight to Biarritz". The Canberra Times. 14 June 2020. Archived 27 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  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 2016-12-05.
  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 2016-12-05.
  9. ^ Speight re-signs with Wallabies
  10. ^ "QPR StoreLocal Hospital Cup Countdown". QRU. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  11. ^ "Player Statistics". its rugby. Retrieved 20 March 2017.