George Smith (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
George Smith is an Australian rugby union
player. He is a flanker
for Toulon. He won 110 caps
for Australia
before retiring from international rugby on 5 February 2010. He made his Test debut in 2000 against France
in Paris and he is the most capped Wallaby forward, and the most capped flanker in the history of Rugby Union. He holds the world record as the youngest player to have played 100 test matches at 29 years and 4 days.
in Tonga, playing a year above his age group in the Sydney junior rugby competition. Once that team had reached its age limit (18 years old) and moved on to the colts competition, Smith remained in the Sydney junior rugby competition, this time lining up in his correct age group for the Seaforth-Balgowlah Raiders. He then progressed to playing in the Manly
1st grade Colts side who also won a premiership in 1999. It was during that season that Smith Made his first grade debut at Nepean Rugby Park against The Penrith Emus
. During his junior career he was selected for many representative teams, including Manly, Sydney, Northern Zone, NSW, Australian Under 16s and Australian Schoolboys. Smith also had a successful school career, first at Balgowlagh Boys' High School, then at Cromer High School, where, along with Tongan international John Payne and current Manly and Western Sydney Rams player James Laketpa, he won the Australian Schools Championship.
He was then signed to the ACT Brumbies by then coach Eddie Jones who recognised the huge amount of potential the young breakaway had. He debuted in just his first year of professional rugby, scoring a try in the Brumbies Super 12 Final loss to the Canterburry Crusaders. In a remarkable year, Smith was also capped for the first time in the Wallabies end of season tour against France.
team from 2000–2009. His gameplay around rucks and mauls was fearless and frequently turned over the ball in favour of Australia against the opposing team. Smith is known as a work horse around the ground. His skills with ball in hand are pretty rare for a flanker yet he is also a damaging tackler in defence. He is widely regarded as Australia's premier openside flanker, with his major ability of stealing ruck ball.
He is often voted Players' Player of the Year, awarded for fair-play by his team mates and officials. He has recently been chosen as a member of the Wallaby Team of the Decade
, a remarkable feat considering his age and one of only three current players picked. In 2002, he was the first recipient of the John Eales Medal
, awarded by the Australian Rugby Union
and the Rugby Union Players' Association to their Player of the Year.
He won Australian Super 14 player of the year four years in a row between 2006 & 2009.
In 2007 the breakdown specialist capped off another remarkable season claiming the Brett Robinson Award as the CA Brumbies' Players' Player for the fifth consecutive year; AND the Super 14 player of the year; AND finally the prestigious Rugby Union Players' Association 'Rugby Medal for Excellence' – underlining his position as one of rugby's most respected players – reinforced even further by becoming the Wallabies 75th captain, against Canada at the 2007 World Cup.
2008 was a big year for Smith. He captained the Brumbies and the Wallabies numerous times and became the first player to win the John Eales Medal, twice. In addition, Smith won the "Super14 Player of the Year Award", for the third consecutive year and the Brett Robinson Award as the CA Brumbies' Players' Player of the year for the sixth consecutive year. He also reached a personal milestone during the season, making his 100th Super rugby appearance against the Cheetahs in round six. In a memorable double for the Smith family, George's younger brother, Brumbies teammate Tyrone, was named rookie of the year. In the international arena, Smith also became both the most capped flanker and the most capped forward – the latter being previously held by John Eales.
On 5 February 2010, Smith announced his retirement from international rugby, with the 2010 Super 14
season expected to be his last at the Brumbies. Smith celebrated with the remarkable achievement of his 9th CA Brumbies Player's Player of the Year, with 8 of those awards being consecutive.
On 3 June 2010, it was announced Smith had signed a one-year deal with French Top 14 club Toulon. His le Rugby Club Toulonnais team mates will include former Highlander and All Black
prop Carl Hayman, and former Brumbies' scrum-half Matt Henjak.
In 2010, he was selected in the French Barbarians squad to play Tonga
on 26 November.
n background, was easily recognised on the field by his dreadlocked
hair style until late 2006 – when he decided to sell his dreadlocks for charity. Smith is the older brother of fellow Brumbies player and Tongan
rugby league international Tyrone Smith.
Off the field, Smith takes part in many coaching clinics for children and is the face of Australian version of Electronic Arts
' video game Rugby 2005. In 2006 Smith chopped off his dreadlocks for charity. He told the Daily Telegraph "I wouldn't expect much for the (dreadlocks), but anything for the charity would be great.". They were given to a charity for younger people with cancer.
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. He is a flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
for Toulon. He won 110 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
before retiring from international rugby on 5 February 2010. He made his Test debut in 2000 against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
in Paris and he is the most capped Wallaby forward, and the most capped flanker in the history of Rugby Union. He holds the world record as the youngest player to have played 100 test matches at 29 years and 4 days.
Junior career
Smith began playing rugby with the Warringah Roos, before moving on to play the majority of his junior career with the Manly Vikings, and Tupou CollegeTupou College
Tupou College is a Methodist boys' secondary boarding school in Toloa on the island of Tongatapu, Tonga.It is located on the Eastern District of Tongatapu near the village of Malapo. The school is owned by the Free Weslyan Church of Tonga. Established in 1866 by James Egan Moulton, it claims to be...
in Tonga, playing a year above his age group in the Sydney junior rugby competition. Once that team had reached its age limit (18 years old) and moved on to the colts competition, Smith remained in the Sydney junior rugby competition, this time lining up in his correct age group for the Seaforth-Balgowlah Raiders. He then progressed to playing in the Manly
Manly RUFC
Manly Rugby Union Football Club are a rugby union club based in Manly, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. The club was formed in 1906 and competes in the New South Wales Rugby Union competitions, the Shute Shield and Tooheys New Cup. Manly, known as the Marlins, play their home games at Manly...
1st grade Colts side who also won a premiership in 1999. It was during that season that Smith Made his first grade debut at Nepean Rugby Park against The Penrith Emus
Penrith Emus Rugby
Penrith Rugby Club, known as the Emus, are an Australian rugby union club based in Penrith, a western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. The club competes in the New South Wales Rugby Union competitions, the Shute Shield and Tooheys New Cup. The club was formed in 1965 as Nepean and began playing...
. During his junior career he was selected for many representative teams, including Manly, Sydney, Northern Zone, NSW, Australian Under 16s and Australian Schoolboys. Smith also had a successful school career, first at Balgowlagh Boys' High School, then at Cromer High School, where, along with Tongan international John Payne and current Manly and Western Sydney Rams player James Laketpa, he won the Australian Schools Championship.
He was then signed to the ACT Brumbies by then coach Eddie Jones who recognised the huge amount of potential the young breakaway had. He debuted in just his first year of professional rugby, scoring a try in the Brumbies Super 12 Final loss to the Canterburry Crusaders. In a remarkable year, Smith was also capped for the first time in the Wallabies end of season tour against France.
Senior career
Smith is a rare and noted rugby union player in that he made his debut for his country before playing a professional match of rugby; he was an incisive feature of the WallabiesAustralia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
team from 2000–2009. His gameplay around rucks and mauls was fearless and frequently turned over the ball in favour of Australia against the opposing team. Smith is known as a work horse around the ground. His skills with ball in hand are pretty rare for a flanker yet he is also a damaging tackler in defence. He is widely regarded as Australia's premier openside flanker, with his major ability of stealing ruck ball.
He is often voted Players' Player of the Year, awarded for fair-play by his team mates and officials. He has recently been chosen as a member of the Wallaby Team of the Decade
Wallaby Team of the Decade
To celebrate 10 years of professional rugby union, Australian Rugby celebrated the occasion with the announcement in 2005 of the Wallaby Team of the Decade...
, a remarkable feat considering his age and one of only three current players picked. In 2002, he was the first recipient of the John Eales Medal
John Eales Medal
The John Eales Medal is awarded to honour the best Australian rugby union player each year. The medal, which was launched in 2002, is jointly awarded each year by the Australian Rugby Union and the Rugby Union Players Association....
, awarded by the Australian Rugby Union
Australian Rugby Union
The Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
and the Rugby Union Players' Association to their Player of the Year.
He won Australian Super 14 player of the year four years in a row between 2006 & 2009.
In 2007 the breakdown specialist capped off another remarkable season claiming the Brett Robinson Award as the CA Brumbies' Players' Player for the fifth consecutive year; AND the Super 14 player of the year; AND finally the prestigious Rugby Union Players' Association 'Rugby Medal for Excellence' – underlining his position as one of rugby's most respected players – reinforced even further by becoming the Wallabies 75th captain, against Canada at the 2007 World Cup.
2008 was a big year for Smith. He captained the Brumbies and the Wallabies numerous times and became the first player to win the John Eales Medal, twice. In addition, Smith won the "Super14 Player of the Year Award", for the third consecutive year and the Brett Robinson Award as the CA Brumbies' Players' Player of the year for the sixth consecutive year. He also reached a personal milestone during the season, making his 100th Super rugby appearance against the Cheetahs in round six. In a memorable double for the Smith family, George's younger brother, Brumbies teammate Tyrone, was named rookie of the year. In the international arena, Smith also became both the most capped flanker and the most capped forward – the latter being previously held by John Eales.
On 5 February 2010, Smith announced his retirement from international rugby, with the 2010 Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
season expected to be his last at the Brumbies. Smith celebrated with the remarkable achievement of his 9th CA Brumbies Player's Player of the Year, with 8 of those awards being consecutive.
On 3 June 2010, it was announced Smith had signed a one-year deal with French Top 14 club Toulon. His le Rugby Club Toulonnais team mates will include former Highlander and All Black
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....
prop Carl Hayman, and former Brumbies' scrum-half Matt Henjak.
In 2010, he was selected in the French Barbarians squad to play Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
on 26 November.
Personal life
Smith, who is of TongaTonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n background, was easily recognised on the field by his dreadlocked
Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks, also called locks, a ras, dreads, "rasta" or Jata , are matted coils of hair. Dreadlocks are usually intentionally formed; because of the variety of different hair textures, various methods are used to encourage the formation of locks such as backcombing...
hair style until late 2006 – when he decided to sell his dreadlocks for charity. Smith is the older brother of fellow Brumbies player and Tongan
Tonga national rugby league team
The Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side, representing Tonga in rugby league football. Rugby league is a popular sport in Tonga, and the national team has become one of the best performed nations in the world...
rugby league international Tyrone Smith.
Off the field, Smith takes part in many coaching clinics for children and is the face of Australian version of Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
' video game Rugby 2005. In 2006 Smith chopped off his dreadlocks for charity. He told the Daily Telegraph "I wouldn't expect much for the (dreadlocks), but anything for the charity would be great.". They were given to a charity for younger people with cancer.
See also
- Wallaby Team of the DecadeWallaby Team of the DecadeTo celebrate 10 years of professional rugby union, Australian Rugby celebrated the occasion with the announcement in 2005 of the Wallaby Team of the Decade...
- The WallabiesAustralia national rugby union teamThe Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
- The BrumbiesBrumbies RugbyThe Brumbies are a Super 15 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberra's hinterland...
- Super 14Super 14Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...