Speight's Wallaby dream on hold
Waratahs wing Peter Betham will join the Wallabies 32-man Rugby Championship squad, with a hamstring injury sidelining Brumbies flyer Henry Speight for a month.
Speight, who becomes eligible to represent Australia from September 11, suffered the injury in the second half of the Brumbies recent Super Rugby semifinal clash against the Waratahs.
Betham replaces Speight in the Wallabies squad and will now push for further representative honours, after earning his international debut for Australia in the third Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Dunedin last year.
"It's disappointing for Henry but I've got no doubt that he'll 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," Wallabies coach Ewen 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, minus the Waratahs players participating in the Super Rugby Final, will assemble on Sunday, August 3.
The Waratahs representatives in the Wallabies squad will join the team in Bathurst next Wednesday, August 6.
