George Smith (rugby player)

Rugger
name = George Smith


caption =
birthname = George Smith
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|7|14|df=yes
placeofbirth = Manly, NSW flagicon|New South Wales
height = height|m=1.80
caps = yes
weight = convert|98|kg|lb|abbr=on
ru_position =Flanker|capital=yes
super14 = flagicon|AUSBrumbies
super14years = 2000-present
super14caps= 93
super14points = (75)
super14update = 2006-08-31
ru_currentclub = Manly RUFC
ru_nationalteam = flagicon|AUSAustralia
Australian Schoolboys
ru_nationalyears = 2000-present
1997-1998
ru_nationalcaps = 89
ru_nationalpoints = (40)
ru_ntupdate = 2006-08-31
occupation = Professional rugby union footballer
school = Cromer High School, Sydney
other = yes
status =
title =
family =
spouse =
children = 1
relatives = Tyrone Smith
ethnic =
religion =
salary =
networth =
URL =

George Smith (born 14 July 1980 in Manly, NSW) is an Australian rugby union player. He is a flanker for the Brumbies in Super 14. He has won 89 caps for the Australian national rugby union team since 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.

Career

Smith is a rare and noted rugby union player in that he made his debut for his country before playing a professional game of rugby; he has been a main feature of the Wallabies team for the past few years. His gameplay around rucks and mauls is fearless and frequently turns over the ball in favour of Australia. Smith is known as a work horse around the field. His skills with ball in hand are very rare for a forward yet he is also a damaging tackler in defence. He is widely regarded as one of the world's best openside flankers weasel-inline, with his major ability of stealing ruck ball.

Junior career

George began playing rugby with the Warringah Roos, before moving on to play the majority of his junior career with the Manly Vikings, playing a year above his age group in the Sydney junior rugby competition. Once that team had reached it's age limit (17 years old) and moved on to the colts competition, George remained in the Sydney junior rugby competition, this time lining up in his correct age group for the Seaforth-Balgowlah Raiders, winning the premiership in his final year of junior rugby. Fact|date=April 2008

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 Geroge Made his first grade debut at Nepean Rugby Park against The Penrith Emus.

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.

During his junior career George was selected for many representitive teams, including Manly, Sydney, Northern Zone, NSW, Australian Under 16's and Australian Schoolboys. George also had a successful school career, first at Balgowlah Boys High School, then at Cromer High School, where, along with Tongan international John Payne and current Manly and Western Sydney Rams player James Lakepa, he won the Australian Schools Championship. After moving on to colts, George played for Manly, before moving to Canberra to begin his contract with the ACT Brumbies.

George also played Rugby League in his youth as a hooker for Cromer, before giving the game away after failing to gain selection in the Manly Sea Eagles Harold Mathews (Under 16's) side.

Brumbies career

Wallabies career

Awards

He is often voted Players' Player of the Year,cite news | url=http://www.rupa.com.au/administration/emailtemplates/newsletter.aspx?PageID=1306#Anchor1316| title=Super 14 Awards - Congratulations | publisher=The Rugby Union Players' Association] 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.cite news | url=http://www.rupa.com.au/ArticlePage.aspx?PageID=139| title=The John Eales Medal | publisher=The Rugby Union Players' Association | date= 2006-08-31 | accessdate= 2006-08-31]

He won the Australian Super 14 player of the year in 2006cite news | url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,19318371-5002381,00.html| title= Smith crowned player of series | publisher=Fox News | date= 2006-06-01 | accessdate= 2006-08-31]

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; [ [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22074840-23217,00.html Brumbies vote Smith the best - Rugby - Fox Sports ] ] AND the Super 14 player of the year; [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/21/sports/AS-SPT-RUGU-Super-14-Australian-Awards.php Flanker George Smith wins Super 14 Australian player of the series award - International Herald Tribune ] ] 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.

In 2008 Smith won the "Super14 Player of the Year Award", for the third consecutive year. He also won the Brett Robinson Award as the CA Brumbies’ Players’ Player of the year for the sixth consecutive year. [ [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24007550-23217,00.html Smith wins sixth successive honour] ] 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.

Personal

Smith has Tongan ancestry. [ [http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/tonga/tonga_brief.html Kingdom of Tonga Country Brief] , Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government. June 2008.] Until late 2006, when he decided to sell his dreadlocks for charity, he was easily recognised on the field by his dreadlocked hair style. Fact|date=August 2007 Smith is the older brother of fellow Brumbies player and Tongan international Tyrone Smith. Unlike him, he chose to play for Australia.

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.

In the game "Rugby 06" by EA Sports, Smith plays for the ACT Brumbies, and also represents Australia as a Flanker (and if necessary a Number 8). His character in the game has "star" status, which is symbolised by a star overhanging his head.

enior Tours

* 2000 Japan, France & UK
* 2001 UK & Europe
* 2002 Argentina, UK & Europe
* 2003 Rugby World Cup (Aus)
* 2004 UK & France
* 2005 UK & France
* 2006 UK & France
* 2007 Rugby World Cup (Fra)

External links

* [http://www.rugby.com.au/players/wallabies/2006_squad/smith_george,45363.html Wallabies Profile]
* [http://www.brumbies.com.au/act/act.rugby/page/39278 Brumbies Profile]

ee also

*Wallaby Team of the Decade
*The Wallabies
*The Brumbies
*Super 14

References