After travelling to the Rio Olympics with the Australian rugby sevens squad, winger Henry Speight has been included in a 33-man Wallabies’ squad for upcoming Tests against South Africa and Argentina.

Speight, 28, played just five Super Rugby matches for the Brumbies in 2016 due to a flexible contract which allowed him to spend much of the year with the sevens squad.

His Olympic dream was hampered by a knee injury.

Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Reddit Email Share

With Adam Ashley-Cooper returning to his French club side Bordeaux for the Top 14 season after winning his 116th cap in last weekend’s loss to New Zealand in Wellington, a spot in the squad opened up for the Fiji-born Speight, who has played five Tests for Australia.

Fellow France-based stars Drew Mitchell (Toulon) and Will Genia (Stade Francais) will remain with the squad.

Australian coach Michael Cheika has named four uncapped players in the expanded squad for Tests against South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday and against Argentina in Perth on September 17.

They include Sefa Naivalu, who becomes eligible to play for the Wallabies on September 18.

The other uncapped players are Kyle Godwin, Lopeti Timani and Tom Robertson.

The squad also includes Brumbies lock Rory Arnold, who has overcome an elbow injury.



Matt Giteau, Matt Toomua, Rob Horne and Ben McCalman were not considered due to injury.

Wallabies squad:

Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Quade Cooper, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Kyle Godwin, James Hanson, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Michael Hooper, Sekope Kepu, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Sean McMahon, Drew Mitchell, Stephen Moore (capt), Luke Morahan, Dean Mumm, Sefa Naivalu, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, Henry Speight, James Slipper, Lopeti Timani.