Nicky Smith (rugby union)
{{Short description|Welsh rugby union player}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Nicky Smith
| image = Nicky Smith 2025.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Nicky Smith
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|4|7}}
| birth_place = Swansea, Wales
| height = {{convert|183|cm|ftin|order=flip|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|113|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = Gower College Swansea
Pentrehafod Comprehensive School
| currentclub = Leicester Tigers
| position = Loosehead Prop
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Waunarlwydd
| amatyears2 = 2012–2014
| amatteam2 = Swansea
| amatapps2 = 31
| amatpoints2 = 0
| amatyears3 = 2013–2014
| amatteam3 = Aberavon
| amatapps3 = 2
| amatpoints3 = 0
| years1 = 2012–2024
| clubs1 = Ospreys
| apps1 = 191
| points1 = 65
| years2 = 2024–
| clubs2 = Leicester Tigers
| apps2 = 18
| points2 = 5
| clubupdate = 21 April 2025
| repyears1 = 2013–2014
| repteam1 = {{nruu|Wales|20}}
| repcaps1 = 15
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 = 2014–
| repteam2 = {{nrut|Wales}}
| repcaps2 = 55
| reppoints2 = 15
| repupdate = 15 March 2025
}}
Nicky Smith (born 7 April 1994) is a Welsh professional rugby union player. He plays prop for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby and has represented {{nrut|Wales}} 55 times.
He has three sons who he shares with his wife Kirsty [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGYk3qNtSM_/?igsh=Z3BxZ21xcjEwdG81].
Club career
He spent 12 seasons playing for his home town team, the Ospreys in the multi-national URC. He has also represented Aberavon RFC and Swansea RFC in the Welsh Premiership.
On 20 March 2024, Smith's signing was announced by Leicester Tigers.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68618453|work=BBC Sport|title=Nicky Smith: Leicester Tigers sign Wales loose-head prop from Ospreys for 2024-25|date=20 March 2024}} He made his debut on 21 September in a 17–14 win against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
International career
Smith appeared for the Wales Under-20 team on 15 occasions, having made his debut against Ireland U20 during the 2013 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/175726.html|title=Wales Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s|website=ESPN scrum}} He went on to play every match of the 2013 Championship, before being selected for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France. Smith only played once during the U20s World Championship. Smith played in every match of the 2014 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in New Zealand.
In October 2014 he was named the Wales senior squad for the 2014 Autumn International series against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/9370298.stm|title=Williams omitted from Wales squad|date=13 February 2018|via=news.bbc.co.uk}} Smith made his senior international debut for Wales on 15 November 2014 versus Fiji. He was chosen to start in Wales' Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on 5 February 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38838243|title=Six Nations 2017: Rhys Webb returns as Wales make five changes for Italy game|work=BBC Sport |date=2 February 2017|via=bbc.co.uk}}
= International tries =
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | {{ru|URU}} | Kumamoto, Japan | Egao Kenko Stadium | 2019 Rugby World Cup | {{dts|format=dmy|2019|October|13}} | Win |
| 2 | {{ru|FRA}} | Paris, France | Stade de France | 2020 Autumn Internationals | {{dts|format=dmy|2020|October|24}} | Loss |
| 3 | {{ru|CAN}} | Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2021 Summer Internationals | {{dts|format=dmy|2021|July|3}} | Win |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ospreysrugby.com/Teams/Ospreys/Player/150817 Ospreys profile]
- [http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/matchcentre/squads_wales_u20.php?player=89907&includeref=dynamic Wales Under 20]
{{Leicester Tigers squad}}
{{Wales squad 2019 Rugby World Cup}}
{{Wales 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Nicky}}
Category:Wales international rugby union players
Category:Welsh rugby union players
Category:Ospreys (rugby union) players
Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen
Category:Leicester Tigers players
Category:Rugby union players from Swansea