Ben Smith (rugby union)
| Full name | Benjamin Robert Smith | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1 June 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Dunedin, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Weight | 85 kg (13 st 5 lb) | ||
| School | King's High School, Dunedin | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Fullback / Wing/ Midfield | ||
| New Zealand No. | 1100 | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2008- | Otago | 42 | (55) |
| correct as of 4 November 2012. | |||
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2009- | Highlanders | 69 | (70) |
| correct as of 01 June 2013. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2009- | New Zealand | 14 | (15) |
| correct as of 17 June 2013. | |||
Ben Smith (born 1 June 1986 in Dunedin, New Zealand) is a rugby union player who plays for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition and for Otago in the ITM Cup. He plays as a fullback, wing and centre.[1]
Contents |
Playing career[edit]
Provincial Rugby[edit]
Born in Dunedin, Smith progressed through the junior ranks in the city before making his Air New Zealand Cup debut in 2008. He was one of the breakout stars of the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup, scoring six tries for Otago en route earning a year-end selection for the New Zealand national team (All Blacks). 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.
Super Rugby[edit]
Smith was selected to the Highlanders squad for the 2009 Super 14 season.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
Shifted back to his preferred position of fullback for the 2011 Super Rugby season, earned praise from coach Jamie Joseph and consideration for another All Blacks callup.[2] He started every Highlander game for the third season running and added another two tries to his career total.[citation needed] In 2013 he continued as Highlanders fullback and was selected for the All Blacks to play on the wing against France.[1][3]
International Play[edit]
In 2009 Smith was included in the 33-member All Blacks squad for the 2009 Autumn Internationals, ahead of veteran All Black winger Joe Rokocoko. Smith made his test debut for the All Blacks against Italy[citation needed] on 14 November 2009 at the San Siro, Milan, which the All Blacks won 20-6. He scored his first All Blacks try[citation needed] 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.
In 2012 Smith got recalled for the All Blacks.[citation needed]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Hinton, Marc (5 June 2013). "Ben Smith shaping as pivotal to ABs backline". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ Burbon, Nathan (14 May 2011). "Highlanders bounce back with a vengeance". Southland Times. Fairfax. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ^ Mortimer, James (5 June 2013). "Ben Smith to continue the evolution of an All Blacks three-quarter" (Press release). New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
External links[edit]
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||
