Ben Smith (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
Ben Smith is a Rugby Union
player who plays provincial rugby for Otago
in the ITM Cup, and for the Highlanders in the Super 15 competition. He plays as a winger and fullback.
debut in 2008
. He was one of the breakout stars of the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup
, scoring 6 tries for Otago en route earning a year-end All Blacks
selection. In the 2010 ITM Cup
, however, he struggled to make the same impact as Otago endured a nightmare season and bottom-of-the-table finish, while Smith missed several matches while at the Commonwealth Games
in India.
, and quickly developed into one of the franchise's cornerstone players. He started every game on the wing in the number 14 jersey and was one of the most impressive first-year players in the competition, impressing with his intelligent play, kick-receiving skills, and counter-attacking ability.
In 2010, Smith started every Highlander game, and scored two tries for the season. He played mainly on the wing, and earned one start at fullback while Israel Dagg
was out injured.
Shifted back to his preferred position of fullback for the 2011 Super Rugby season, Smith responded with a stellar season, earning substantial praise from coach Jamie Joseph
and consideration for another All Blacks
callup. He started every Highlander game for the third season running and added another two tries to his career total.
squad for the 2009 Autumn Internationals, selected ahead of veteran All Black winger Joe Rokocoko
. He made his test debut for the All Blacks
against Italy
on 14 November 2009 at the San Siro, Milan, the 3rd test of the 2009 Japanese and European end-of-the-year tour, which the All Blacks
won 20-6. He scored his first ever All Blacks
try against the UK Barbarians on the last game of the tour which the Barbarians ran out winners 25-18 at Twickenham, London, on 5 December 2009.
Smith didn't figure into All Black squads in 2010, but was selected for the Rugby sevens
squad which competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in Delhi
, India
, where he helped New Zealand to a gold medal finish.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who plays provincial rugby for Otago
Otago Rugby Football Union
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago Region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial...
in the ITM Cup, and for the Highlanders in the Super 15 competition. He plays as a winger and fullback.
Provincial Rugby
Born in Dunedin, Smith progressed through the junior ranks in the city before making his Air New Zealand CupAir New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
debut in 2008
2008 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2008 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Thursday 31 July 2008, and continued until the final on 25 October 2008....
. He was one of the breakout stars of the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup
2009 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2009 Air New Zealand Cup was the 33rd provincial rugby union competition, the fourth since the competition reconstruction in 2006, involving the top 14 provincial unions in New Zealand. It ran for 15 weeks from 30 July to 7 November...
, scoring 6 tries for Otago en route earning a year-end All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
selection. In the 2010 ITM Cup
2010 ITM Cup
The 2010 ITM Cup was the 34th provincial rugby union competition, the fifth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the first under the new sponsor of ITM , involving the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand...
, however, he struggled to make the same impact as Otago endured a nightmare season and bottom-of-the-table finish, while Smith missed several matches while at the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in India.
Super Rugby
Smith was selected to the Highlanders squad for the 2009 Super 14 season2009 Super 14 season
The 2009 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2009 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 30 May, when the Bulls won their second Super Rugby title with a decisive 61–17 victory over the Waikato Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. The 2009 season...
, and quickly developed into one of the franchise's cornerstone players. He started every game on the wing in the number 14 jersey and was one of the most impressive first-year players in the competition, impressing with his intelligent play, kick-receiving skills, and counter-attacking ability.
In 2010, Smith started every Highlander game, and scored two tries for the season. He played mainly on the wing, and earned one start at fullback while Israel Dagg
Israel Dagg
Israel Dagg is a World Cup winning New Zealand Rugby union player who plays for the Crusaders in the Super 15 and the All Blacks. He has also played for the New Zealand Sevens team. He is of Maori descent, on his mother's side....
was out injured.
Shifted back to his preferred position of fullback for the 2011 Super Rugby season, Smith responded with a stellar season, earning substantial praise from coach Jamie Joseph
Jamie Joseph
James Whitinui Joseph is a former All Black flanker.Joseph's All Blacks career spanned 30 matches including 20 tests from 1992 to 1995 including the 1995 World Cup....
and consideration for another All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
callup. He started every Highlander game for the third season running and added another two tries to his career total.
International Play
Following his stellar play in the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup, Smith was included in the 33-member All BlacksAll Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
squad for the 2009 Autumn Internationals, selected ahead of veteran All Black winger Joe Rokocoko
Joe Rokocoko
Josevata Taliga "Joe" Rokocoko is a professional New Zealand rugby union player. Rokocoko is known for his speed and strength which has accounted for his prolific try strike rate...
. He made his test debut for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
against Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on 14 November 2009 at the San Siro, Milan, the 3rd test of the 2009 Japanese and European end-of-the-year tour, which the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
won 20-6. He scored his first ever All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
try against the UK Barbarians on the last game of the tour which the Barbarians ran out winners 25-18 at Twickenham, London, on 5 December 2009.
Smith didn't figure into All Black squads in 2010, but was selected for the Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
squad which competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he helped New Zealand to a gold medal finish.