Speight to swap Brumbies for Reds

Cape Town - The Brumbies have announced that wing Henry Speight will leave the club at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season to move to the Reds. 

Speight has been a hugely influential member of the club since making his debut in 2011 against the Chiefs in Canberra, crossing for his first try in Brumbies colours a week later, against the Rebels in Melbourne.

Since then Speight, who has also claimed nineteen caps for Australia and scored four tries, has moved onto 45 tries for the club in 119 appearances in becoming one of the finest wings of his generation and becoming a fans-favourite in the process.

“I will be forever grateful for the Brumbies for giving me the chance to play Super Rugby at a club with an unbelievable culture and strong history,” Speight said of the move to Brisbane.

“The Canberra community as well has been fantastic to me and has given me so many memories inside and outside of rugby.

“This was the toughest decision I have ever made but discussions with my partner Louise and as an expecting parent for the first time, we thought that a longer-term arrangement and the chance to be around family was the right choice for us all.

Speight, who also had stints playing for Waikato in New Zealand and Ulster Rugby in Ireland, is well-known and well-loved for his tireless interactions with fans after matches.

“Henry is a legend of the Brumbies now and he always will be,” said Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar.

“He is a loved character in our team and loved in the community and is incredibly popular throughout the region. Henry has done so much work for charity off-field and has obviously been an enormous contributor on-field.

“Once a Brumby always a Brumby and that is certainly the case with Henry Speight. When he returns to us, at some point of time in his career in an opposition jersey, I would imagine he would get a warm reception, and he deserves that.

“Whilst it’s sad, we certainly understand why he has made the decision that he has, and we wish him all the best for the future.”

NEWS | Henry Speight to join @Reds_Rugby at the end of the season. More information below.

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— Plus500 Brumbies (@BrumbiesRugby) May 30, 2019