Peter Betham called up to Wallabies squad as hamstring injury sidelines Henry Speight

A HAMSTRING injury to Henry Speight has opened the Wallabies door for Peter Betham, who has been called into the 32-man Rugby Championship squad.

Peter Betham scores for the Waratahs during the Waratahs v Queensland Reds Super Rugby game at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. pic mark evans

A HAMSTRING injury to Brumbies flyer Henry Speight has opened the door for Peter Betham, with the Waratahs winger included in the Wallabies 32-man squad for the Rugby Championship.

Fiji-born Speight becomes eligible to represent Australia from September 11, but he picked up the injury in the second half of the Brumbies Super Rugby semi-final defeat to the Waratahs.

Betham has only just returned from injury himself, having fractured his foot in South Africa four months ago.

He made his debut for Australia in the third Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks in Dunedin last year.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie was disappointed to lose Speight for a month, but was confident Betham would be a more than adequate replacement.

Henry Speight is out for a month with a hamstring injury.

“It’s disappointing for Henry, but I’ve got no doubt that he will go back and work hard during the rehab process to get his injury healed before he becomes eligible to play for Australia in mid-September,” McKenzie said.

“On the flip side we bring in a guy in Peter Betham who has had significant exposure to our program over the past year and who made his test debut against New Zealand in 2013. He’s a quality team member on and off the field and will be determined to make the most of the opportunity he has been given.”

The Wallabies will assemble on Sunday, with the exception of the Waratahs involved in Saturday’s Super Ruby final against the Crusaders, who will join up with the squad on Wednesday.

Originally published as Peter Betham called up to Wallabies squad as hamstring injury sidelines Henry Speight