Betham, Peter

Peter Betham (pron: bee-tham) is a tall, strong and athletic outside back who joins the CA Brumbies on a two-year contract from the NSW Academy. The powerfully-built 18-year-old fullback has excelled at junior representative rugby, having represented the Australian Schoolboys and Under 19’s, and has already impressed in his early ventures into a professional full-time program. In 2007 Betham was a member of the Australian Under 19 Rugby World Championship squad in Ireland that was defeated in the semi final by South Africa. He has represented NSW A on four occasions, including the 56-20 win over the Brumby Runners at Canberra Stadium in February. Betham joins the CA Brumbies fullback ranks which include Wallabies Adam Ashley-Cooper, Julian Huxley and Mark Gerrard.

Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Betham grew up playing rugby league for the Coogee Wombats before attending St Joseph’s College. After earning selection for the South Sydney Rabbitohs Harold Matthews and SG Ball sides, and the Waratahs Academy, Betham teamed up with fellow teen sensation Kurtley Beale at Sydney’s St Joseph’s College and went on to represent the Australian Schoolboys for two years in 2005 and 2006. In 2005 he scored the match-winning try for the Australia A Schoolboys in their dramatic 14-13 triumph over the New Zealand Schoolboys in Sydney – a feat not achieved since 1997 when the Australian Schoolboys squad featured George Smith, Phil Waugh, David Lyons and Adam Freier. Betham, having represented the Australian Schoolboys in their tours of the United Kingdom (2005) and New Zealand and Fiji (2006), was drafted into the NSW Academy direct from school for 2007.