George Smith (rugby union)

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George Smith (rugby union) bigraphy, stories - Australian rugby union player

George Smith (rugby union) : biography

14 July 1980 –

George Smith AM (born 14 July 1980) is an Australian rugby union player. He is a flanker for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan though he is currently on a loan spell for the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby. He made his Test debut in 2000 against France in Paris and won 110 caps for Australia before retiring from international rugby on 5 February 2010. He is the second most capped Wallaby forward behind Nathan Sharpe, and is the second most capped flanker in rugby union behind Richie McCaw. 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 was born in Manly, Sydney. He 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, he won the Australian Schools Championship.

He was then signed to the ACT Brumbies by Eddie Jones. He debuted in just his first year of professional rugby, scoring a try in the Brumbies Super 12 Final loss to the Canterbury 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 was a key player for the Wallabies from 2000–2009.

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 and 2009.

In 2007 the breakdown specialist capped off another remarkable season claiming awards including: the Brett Robinson Award as the Brumbies’ Players’ Player for the fifth consecutive year; Super 14 Player of the Year; and the Rugby Union Players’ Association ‘Rugby Medal for Excellence’. These recognitions underlined his position as one of rugby’s most respected players, reinforced further when he became the Wallabies 75th captain, against Canada at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

2008 was a big year for Smith. He captained the Brumbies and the Wallabies and became the first player to win the John Eales Medal, twice. In addition, Smith won the "Super 14 Player of the Year Award", for the third consecutive year and the Brett Robinson Award as the Brumbies’ Players’ Player of the year for the sixth consecutive year.

He also reached a personal milestone during the season, when he made 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, the older 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. 2010 was expected to be his last in Super Rugby. Smith celebrated with the achievement of his 9th Brumbies Players’ Player of the Year, with eight of those awards being consecutive.http://www.brumbies.com.au/act.rugby/page/58744 In June 2010, Smith signed a one-year contract 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.

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In 2010, he was selected in the French Barbarians to play at blindside flanker (number 6) against Tonga.

In March 2011, Smith played for the Australia XV team alongside fellow Tongan, Lisiate Tafa, in the Southern Hemisphere Charity Fundraiser against the Pacific Barbarians.

On the 25 February 2013, the Brumbies announced he would return to Australia on a short term contract, for the 2013 Super Rugby season. This followed Ita Vaea’s season-ending injury. Smith has the approval of his Japanese club Sungoliath for his 12-week stint back in Australia.

On 23 June 2013, after recovering from a knee injury, Smith was recalled to the Australian squad for the series against the British and Irish Lions. After being overlooked for the second test, Smith was named as the starting open side flanker for the third and deciding test in Sydney. It would be his first test since his retirement from international rugby in February 2010 and would break Colin Meads’ record of 4382 days between his first test against the Lions, and his last.

Personal life

Smith, who is of Tongan background, is the older brother of fellow Brumbies player and Tongan rugby league international Tyrone Smith.

He was easily recognised on the field by his dreadlocked hair style until late 2006 – when he decided to sell 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. 

Smith was the face of Australian version of Electronic Arts’ video game Rugby 2005.