John Smit : biography
John William Smit (born 3 April 1978 in Pietersburg, South Africa) is the 50th captain of the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks, and currently playing professionally in England with Saracens. He has played most of his career as a hooker, but played twice for the Springboks off the bench as a prop prior to the South Africa coaching staff’s decision to use him as a tighthead prop for the 2008 end of year Tests. On 22 November 2008, he surpassed prop Os du Randt as the most-capped forward in Springboks history. He retired from international rugby following the 2011 Rugby World Cup as the most-capped player in South African history, with 111 appearances.
While still active at club level, Smit was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011, alongside all other Rugby World Cup-winning captains and head coaches from the tournament’s inception in 1987 through 2007 (minus the previously inducted John Eales).
Smit attended Pretoria Boys High School where he was head prefect in 1996 and played for the school’s First XV from 1994 to 1996.
Clermont
During the run-up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup, he was linked with the French club Clermont. He eventually signed a two-year deal with Clermont, effective after the World Cup. Despite his move to France, the South African Rugby Union announced on 20 February 2008 that he would retain his Boks captaincy. . After just one year with Clermont, Smit rejoined The Natal Sharks and the Super 14 side Sharks.
Missed Matches as Captain
Date | Opposition | Venue | Score | Status | Captain |
2007-06-23 | New Zealand | ABSA Stadium, Durban | 21–16 | 2007 Tri Nations | Victor Matfield |
2007-06-01 | Australia | Stadium Australia, Sydney | 17–25 | Bobby Skinstad | |
2007-07-14 | New Zealand | Jade Stadium, Christchurch | 6–33 | Johann Muller | |
2007-08-15 | Namibia | Newlands, Cape Town | 105–13 | Rugby World Cup warm-up tests | Victor Matfield |
2007-07-14 | Scotland | Murrayfield, Edinburgh | 27–3 | Victor Matfield | |
2007-09-22 | Tonga | Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens | 30–25 | 2007 Rugby World Cup | Bobby Skinstad |
2008-06-21 | Italy | Newlands, Cape Town | 26–0 | Test Match | Victor Matfield |
2008-07-12 | New Zealand | Carisbrook, Dunedin | 30–28 | 2008 Tri Nations | Victor Matfield |
2008-07-12 | Australia | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 9–16 | Victor Matfield | |
2008-08-09 | Argentina | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | 63–9 | Test Match | Victor Matfield |
2008-08-16 | New Zealand | Newlands, Cape Town | 0–19 | 2008 Tri Nations | Victor Matfield |
2008-07-23 | Australia | ABSA Stadium, Durban | 15–27 | Victor Matfield | |
2008-07-30 | Australia | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | 53–8 | Victor Matfield | |
2010-06-19 | Italy | Puma Rugby Stadium, Witbank | 29–13 | Italian Test Series | Victor Matfield |
2010-11-06 | Ireland | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 23–21 | Grand Slam tour | Victor Matfield |
2010-11-13 | Wales | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | 00–00 | Victor Matfield | |
2010-11-20 | Scotland | Murrayfield, Edinburgh | 17–21 | Victor Matfield | |
2010-11-27 | England | Twickenham, London | 21–11 | Victor Matfield | |
2011-08-20 | New Zealand | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 18–5 | 2011 Tri Nations | Victor Matfield |
2011-09-30 | Samoa | North Harbour Stadium, Auckland | 13–5 | 2011 Rugby World Cup | Victor Matfield |