Henry Speight ruled out of Rio Olympic contention after sustaining knee injury

HENRY Speight has been ruled out of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games after suffering a grade 3 medial ligament injury to his right knee.

Henry Speight’s Olympic dream is over after sustaining a medial ligament injury

HENRY Speight has been ruled out of contention for the Rio Olympics after suffering a serious knee injury.

Speight picked up a grade 3 medial ligament strain during a series of internal trials played between the Australian sevens team and a development side.

He is expected to be out for three months, meaning Speight will also be out of contention for most of the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship campaign as well.

“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,” Australian sevens coach Andy Friend 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.”

​Speight played ​two tournaments for the Aussie sevens team, in Dubai and Sydney. He had only just returned from a fractured eye socket.

The final squads for Rio 2016 will be announced on July 14.

Originally published as Henry Speight ruled out of Rio Olympic contention after sustaining knee injury