Speight's Olympic blow

Wed, Jun 15, 2016, 2:30 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Henry Speight is out of the Rio Olympics. Photo: Getty Images
Henry Speight is out of the Rio Olympics. Photo: Getty Images

Henry Speight will not feature in the Rio Olympics, after suffering a medial ligament injury on Tuesday.

Speight was playing his first series of matches since a facial fracture as he vied for a spot on the plane to Rio, but went down in the fourth game of a six-game series against a national development side.

The injury will rule him out of Rio and the remainder of the Super Rugby season,  but he could be in line for a Wallabies return during the Rugby Championship, with a 12-week recovery expected.

That three-month timeline would put him on track for the Wallabies Test against the Springboks in Brisbane on September 10.

Sevens coach Andy Friend said Speight's injury was hugely disappointing for the team, after the commitment he showed to get himself back in Olympic contention.

"We’re all gutted for Henry. He made a commitment to the program and has done everything he possibly could to get himself in the frame for Olympic selection," he said.

“Even after the facial injury he received some ten weeks ago, Henry’s commitment didn’t waver but the rugby gods just haven’t been kind to him whatsoever. On behalf of everyone at the Australian Sevens program, we would like to wish Henry all the best in his recovery.”

The Australian Sevens complete their six-match trial series against the development side on Wednesday, with the final men's and women's sevens teams for Rio to be named on July 17.

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