NZ sevens eyes Speight

Petero Qauqau

Fiji Times - Monday, February 22, 2010

FORMER Fiji under-19 rugby rep Henry Speight is the latest Fijian of interest for Gordon Tietjens.

It is likely that Speight will be in the Kiwi sevens line-up as early as next year.

The former Queen Victoria School student has been impressive on the New Zealand sevens scene, and recently helped his Samurai club take out the Las Vegas Invitational Club Sevens with exceptional kicking skills last Thursday and Friday, beating Fijian club Uprising 44-7 in their final at the Sam Boyd grounds in the Sin City before the USA Las Vegas Sevens.

The Wainibuka lad who caught the attention of many has been on a three-year stand-down period and will be eligible for New Zealand this November.

"He becomes eligible next year and we are certainly interested in him," Tietjens said.

"He'll be available and he could be selected if he's playing well enough."

The Samurai club that Speight played for in Vegas was guided in by 2008 New Zealand sevens rep Chad Tuoro and managed by Barry Gallagher.

Gallagher was full of praise for the former Victorian and regarded him as a talented all round player with exceptional kicking skills.

"We watched him play for Waikato in the Air New Zealand Cup and he has played very well," Gallagher said.

"I would rank him up there with the internationals and he showed his class in the semis against the Pacific West Coast Grizzlies and in the final against Uprising."

Meanwhile Speight is keeping his options open.

"I haven't made the choice yet but I will decide when the time comes," he said.

Speight continues to play for his Hamilton Old Boys club and his part time studies at Waikato University.