Speight reunites with Friend

Henry Speight still remembers the moment Andy Friend convinced him to join the ACT Brumbies.

They were sitting in the airport in Auckland six years ago, and Speight was a largely unknown talent with the Waikato rugby side.

When Friend landed back in Canberra, he called Speight with a contract offer to kick‑start his Super Rugby career.

The last thing Fijian‑born Speight expected was that a twist would lead to them teaming up again for an Olympic Games campaign with the Australian sevens team.

Speight and Friend will start their sevens journey together in Sydney today.

The sold‑out Sydney Sevens will provide the perfect arena for both to test their credentials as they aim towards Rio and a potential Olympic Games medal.

While former Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper has been left out, Speight has been given his chance to impress as he juggles Super Rugby and sevens duties this year.

Friend has also picked Canberra duo Lewis Holland and Tom Cusack for the blockbuster tournament, which includes a clash against New Zealand's cross‑code superstar Sonny Bill Williams.

Speight is excited to ramp up his sevens initiation after making his debut in Dubai at the end of last year.

Since then he has trained almost exclusively with the sevens to fast‑track his development, and he will play only five games for the Brumbies this year as he targets the Olympics.

Speight was a two‑game Super Rugby rookie when Friend was sacked by the Brumbies at the start of the 2011 season.

But he is back in Australian rugby after a stint in Japan, and is in charge of turning the Thunderbolts into medal contenders.

Source: stuff.co