Conrad Smith

{{About|the rugby union footballer|the Association football player|Conrad Smith (footballer)}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Conrad Smith

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|size=100%}}

| image = Conrad Smith MNZM (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Smith in 2021

| birth_name = Conrad Gerard Smith

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1981|10|12}}

| birth_place = Hāwera, New Zealand

| occupation =

| school = Francis Douglas Memorial College

| university = Victoria University of Wellington

| relatives =

| height = {{convert|1.86|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=1049 |title=Stats |website=allblacks.com |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019123457/http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=1049 |url-status=dead }}

| weight = {{convert|95|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Centre

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2003–2015

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Wellington}}

| apps1 = 43

| points1 = 60

| years2 = 2004–2015

| clubs2 = {{Rut|Hurricanes}}

| apps2 = 126

| points2 = 120

| years3 = 2015–2018

| clubs3 = {{Rut|Pau}}

| apps3 = 52

| points3 = 29

| repyears1 = 2004–2015

| repteam1 = New Zealand

| repcaps1 = 94

| reppoints1 = 130

| clubupdate = 20 May 2018

| repupdate = 20 May 2018

| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =

| ru_sevensnationalteam1 =

| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =

| ru_sevensupdate =

}}

Conrad Gerard Smith {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM}} (born 12 October 1981) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player, who played predominantly at centre. He captained the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, and played for New Zealand from 2004 until 2015. He was a key member of New Zealand's 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams. Following the 2015 World Cup he retired from international rugby and took up a contract with {{Rut|Pau}} in France, before retiring in 2018.

After retiring, he began a defence coaching role with Pau, and extended his contract as the club's High Performance Manager in 2020. He eventually returned to New Zealand in 2021, but still worked for Dublin-based International Rugby Players.{{cite news |url=https://www.sudouest.fr/sport/rugby/top14/conrad-smith-qui-sait-peut-etre-que-je-reviendrai-dans-quelques-annees-10416688.php |language=fr |title=Rugby. Conrad Smith : " Qui sait ? Peut-être que je reviendrai dans quelques années " |date=1 April 2022 |access-date=19 November 2022}}

Early life

Smith played in various Taranaki age group teams. He attended St Joseph's Catholic School{{cite web |title=Our School: Sport, Recreation & Culture |url=http://www.stjosephsnp.school.nz/Our-School/sport-recreation-culture.html |publisher=stjosephsnp.school.nz}} and Francis Douglas Memorial College, both in New Plymouth.{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/8102582/Taranakis-gift-to-Wellington-rugby |title=Taranaki's gift to Wellington rugby |date=24 December 2012 |access-date=29 December 2015}} Besides rugby he also excelled in cricket and was known as a fast bowler; his current nickname "Snakey" originated from his fielding which his coach described as akin to a snake slithering.{{cite news |title=Jean and Conrad: The centre of attention |url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/jean-and-conrad-the-centres-of-attention/ |publisher=SANZAAR |date=14 March 2014}}{{cite news |title=Rugby: Conrad Smith's pace and bounce |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10748780 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=2 September 2011}} After completing secondary school he moved to Wellington where he completed an LLB (Hons) at Victoria University of Wellington,{{cite web |url=http://www.victoria.ac.nz/law/about/alumni/alumni-achievements/alumni-achievements-2013 |title=Alumni Achievements 2013 |publisher=Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Law |access-date=29 December 2015}} residing at Weir House.{{cite web |url=http://www.eduvac.co.nz/news/2008/09/08/wellington-icon-celebrates-75th-anniversary |title=Wellington icon celebrates 75th anniversary |access-date=29 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124185223/http://eduvac.co.nz/news/2008/09/08/wellington-icon-celebrates-75th-anniversary |archive-date=24 January 2016 |url-status=dead}} Smith has been admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.{{cite news |url=http://www.thegenerosityjournal.co.nz/stories/conrad-smith |title=Conrad Smith |access-date=29 December 2015}}

Domestic career

Smith spent most of his career with the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, and also for Wellington in the ITM Cup. He made his Wellington debut in 2003, and was signed by the Hurricanes in 2004. Smith's Hurricanes career was plagued by injury, and having been injured in 2006, 2007 and 2011, he made just 66 appearances in his first eight seasons with the side. He was Hurricanes captain until the end of the 2015 season, having led the side for the first time in 2007 in place of the injured Rodney So'oialo. In February 2015 he announced that the upcoming 2015 Super Rugby season would be his last as he would be joining Pau on a two-year contract.{{cite news |title=Conrad Smith looking forward to swansong year in New Zealand |url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/26644/conrad-smith-looking-forward-to-swansong-year-in-new-zealand |publisher=allblacks.com |date=6 February 2015}}{{cite news |title=Rugby: Conrad Smith joins All Black exodus to France |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11397356 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=6 February 2015}}

Smith made his debut for Pau on 19 December 2015 in the European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 2 match against Welsh side Newport Gwent Dragons.{{cite news |title=Pau 17 v 34 Newport Gwent Dragons match report: Men of Gwent stay in control of Pool Two after stunning win |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-match-reports/pau-17-v-34-newport-10627368 |publisher=WalesOnline |date=19 December 2015}}

International career

He made his All Blacks debut age 22, versus Italy in 2004, after a meteoric rise which saw him make his professional debut just a season earlier. In 2006, Smith won a place on the end of year tour to Europe, despite breaking his leg for the Hurricanes earlier that year. In 2007, Smith faced a number of setbacks, mostly involving injury. However, he eventually earned his way back into a starting position, and by 2008, was the first choice centre for the All Blacks.

Smith was a member of the 2011 Rugby World Cup winning squad playing in the final against France at Eden Park in Auckland on 23 October 2011.

Against Argentina on 28 September 2013, Smith and inside centre Ma'a Nonu achieved a record fifty international games together.{{Cite web |date=27 September 2013 |title=The Stats Don't Lie: Nonu and Smith out to equal world record |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/the-stats-dont-lie-nonu-and-smith-out-to-equal-world-record/2L4GAEP5C7T7PUWVZC74X77JPU/ |access-date=27 February 2021 |website=New Zealand Herald}}

Smith took a six-month break from rugby during the 2013 end-of-year tour, meaning he did not travel with the All Blacks squad to Japan and Europe.{{cite web |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/conrad-smith-confirms-end-year-sabbatical-5450241 |title=Conrad Smith confirms end-of-year sabbatical - Rugby News | TVNZ |access-date=20 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021005040/http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/conrad-smith-confirms-end-year-sabbatical-5450241 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |df=dmy-all}}

In 2015, Smith was named New Zealand's Rugby World Cup team for the second time. The All Blacks won this tournament and Smith played a crucial role throughout, starting in six out of six matches. He was one of six senior players – the others being Keven Mealamu, all-time points scorer Dan Carter, long-time midfield partner Ma'a Nonu, Tony Woodcock and captain Richie McCaw – to retire after the tournament.{{cite news |title=Rugby World Cup 2015: Conrad Smith on life inside the All Blacks |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/34222985 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 September 2015}}

Other work

Off the field, Smith is involved in the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) and sits on the board as a Player Representative.{{cite web |title=Our People: NZRPA Board |date=24 January 2022 |url=http://www.nzrpa.co.nz/our-people |publisher=nzrpa.co.nz}} In 2015, he and McCaw were named as the New Zealand representatives in the 48-member Player Advisory Group by the International Rugby Players Association (IRPA).{{cite web |title=Player Advisory Group 2015 |url=http://irpa-rugby.com/pdf/irpa-player-advisory-group.pdf |publisher=irpa-rugby.com |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701151843/http://irpa-rugby.com/pdf/irpa-player-advisory-group.pdf |archive-date=1 July 2017 |url-status=dead}}

Personal

Smith married Leanne Snowdon in October 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9329283/All-Black-goes-bush-to-marry |title=All Black goes bush to marry |first=Michelle |last=Duff |date=26 October 2013 |via=Stuff.co.nz}} Smith missed a test match in Sydney for the birth of their first child, a boy, in August 2014.{{cite news |last1=McKendry |first1=Patrick |title=Nonu and Kaino 'highly unlikely' for All Blacks |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11311180 |access-date=19 August 2014 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=19 August 2014}}

Honours

=Personal accolades=

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby (2016 New Year Honours){{cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2016 |title=New Year honours list 2016 |date=31 December 2015 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=16 January 2018}}
Steinlager Investec Super Rugby Player of the Year
Wellington Sportsperson of the Year
The Dominion Post Personality of the Year
Record Midfield Partnerships (along with Ma'a Nonu)
Kel Tremain Memorial Player of the Year (Nomination)
Air New Zealand NPC Division One Player of the Year (Nomination)

=Hurricanes=

Hurricanes Captain
Super Rugby Centurion
Most Capped Hurricanes Player (along with Ma'a Nonu)
Conference Winner 2015

=New Zealand=

Tri Nations/The Rugby Championship Champion 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014
British and Irish Lions Series Victory, 2005[51]
Home Nations Grand Slam Tour, 2005,[52] 2008[53] and 2010[54]
Rugby World Cup Winner 2011, 2015

References

External links

{{All Blacks|new_id=Conrad-Smith-AB-1044|old_id=1049}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.therock.net.nz/Shows/AudioOnDemand/tabid/381/articleID/5875/cat/164/Default.aspx?ref=wiki |title=New Zealand's rock radio station |publisher=The Rock |access-date=23 May 2017 |archive-date=14 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314014745/http://www.therock.net.nz/shows/audioondemand/tabid/381/articleid/5875/cat/164/default.aspx?ref=wiki |url-status=dead }}
{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7694689.stm |title=BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Australia 14-19 New Zealand |work=BBC News |date=1 November 2008 |access-date=23 May 2017}}
{{cite web |author=Jamie Wall |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/288288/an-after-party-for-the-record-books |title=An after-party for the record books | Radio New Zealand News |website=Radionz.co.nz |date=29 October 2015 |access-date=23 May 2017}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/conrad-smith-and-maa-nonu-enter-the-record-books-20131003-2uvco.html |title=Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu enter the record books |website=Smh.com.au |date=3 October 2013 |access-date=23 May 2017}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73514622/curtain-to-fall-on-all-blacks-peerless-midfield-combo--maa-nonu-conrad-smith |title=Curtain to fall on All Blacks' peerless midfield combo - Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith |website=Stuff.co.nz |date=30 October 2015 |access-date=23 May 2017}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.mitre10cup.co.nz/News/1173/2004-steinlager-rugby-awards-nominees |title=News | mitre10cup.co.nz | Official home of the Investec Super Rugby competition |website=Mitre10cup.co.nz |access-date=23 May 2017 |archive-date=1 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501083124/http://www.mitre10cup.co.nz/News/1173/2004-steinlager-rugby-awards-nominees |url-status=dead }}
{{cite web |url=http://allblacks.com/News/21265/winners-of-2012-steinlager-rugby-awards-announced |title=News Details |website=Allblacks.com |access-date=23 May 2017 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305015618/http://www.allblacks.com/News/21265/winners-of-2012-steinlager-rugby-awards-announced |url-status=dead }}
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Category:1981 births

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