George Smith (rugby union)

For other people named George Smith, see George Smith (disambiguation).

George Smith

Date of birth	14 July 1980 (1980-07-14)
Place of birth	Manly, Sydney, Australia
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	103 kg (230 lb)
School	Cromer High School, Sydney
Notable relative(s)	Tyrone Smith
Occupation(s)	Professional Rugby Union Player
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Flanker, Number Eight
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2010 – 2011 2011 - present	Toulon Suntory Sungoliath
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2000–2010	Brumbies	122	0(75)
correct as of 2009-11-29.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2000–2009	Australia	110	0(45)
correct as of 2010-02-05.

George Smith AM (born 14 July 1980 in Manly, Sydney) 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.

Career

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 College 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.

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 Wallabies 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.

Smith recently played for the Australia XV team alongside fellow Tongan, Lisiate Tafa, in the Southern Hemisphere Charity Fundraiser [5] against the Pacific Barbarians, held on 6 March 2011.

Personal life

Smith, who is of Tongan 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.

See also

• Wallaby Team of the Decade
• The Wallabies
• The Brumbies
• Super Rugby

References

Preceded by Stirling Mortlock

Australian national rugby union captain 2007-2009

Succeeded by Rocky Elsom

Preceded by Inaugural award

John Eales Medal 2002,2008

Succeeded by Phil Waugh

External links

• Wallabies Profile
• Brumbies Profile
• ESPNscrum Profile