Henry Speight commits to Australian Rugby until the end of 2019

Wallabies and Brumbies winger Henry Speight has signed a new deal with Rugby Australia and the Brumbies until the end of 2019.

The 19-Test star has put to paper on a one-year extension to see him remain on Australian soil until at least the end of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Speight was reportedly offered multiple deals with French Top 14 sides during the November 2017 Tests but turned them down to chase his dream of representing Australia at the World Cup in Japan.

The 29-year old made his debut on the 2014 Spring Tour against Ireland after several standout seasons for the Brumbies and was part of the Wallabies Rugby World Cup campaign in 2015.

Wallabies winger Henry Speight said: "There’s still a lot to achieve with both the Brumbies and the Wallabies so I’m really excited to be staying in Canberra for another year.

 
“The World Cup is a big target of mine. I really enjoyed the experience in 2015 but I want to go one step further next year so hopefully I’m part of that.
 
“Dan (McKellar) is also building something very special at the Brumbies and they have done so much for me since I moved here to Australia,” Speight said.

Speight is also a capped Australian Rugby Sevens player and traveled as a non-playing reserve for the 2016 Olympic Games before establishing himself as a Wallabies regular.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said: “Henry has shown how much he wants to represent the Brumbies and the Wallabies by knocking back big money offers from Europe to stay and play his rugby in Australia.
 
“It shows the quality of character in the man and you need character like that to be a quality player.
 
“I'm sure he's going to have a huge impact on our game over the next 18 months leading into the World Cup,” Cheika said.