RUGBY UNION
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BEFORE he even laces up his boots for this Saturday night’s Super Rugby final, Peter Betham can chalk this week down as a big moment in his career.
It was revealed on wednesday that Betham will be headed to Bathurst next week as part of the Bush2Bledisloe Tour which the Wallabies are using as preparation for their upcoming Tests against the All Blacks.
This year marks the inaugural Bush2Bledisloe Tour, which will see players visit Bathurst as well as Orange, Dubbo and Penrith.
While in Bathurst Betham will not only train with his Australian team-mates, but get the chance to work with some of Bathurst’s rugby talents as well.
He will make the trip to Bathurst in place of uncapped Wallabies winger Henry Speight, who will be sidelined for a month with the hamstring injury he suffered in the Super Rugby semi-final.
Fiji-born Speight is expected to recover from the injury in time to make his Test debut when he becomes eligible during The Rugby Championship.
Betham, currently on the NSW Waratahs’ bench for Saturday night’s Super Rugby final, is now in the mix to add to his one Test cap against the All Blacks last October.
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie, who again overlooked Japan-bound Nick Cummins, indicated the in-form Speight would be available for the September 13 Test against Argentina on the Gold Coast.
“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,” McKenzie said in a statement.
“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 will be in Bathurst next Thursday as part of the Bush2Bledisloe Tour before they kick off their championship campaign with two Bledisloe Cup Tests against the All Blacks on August 16 in Sydney and August 23 in Auckland.
