Conrad Smith

Conrad Smith

Full name	Conrad Gerard Smith
Date of birth	12 October 1981 (1981-10-12) (age 30)
Place of birth	Hawera, Taranaki, New Zealand
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Centre
New Zealand No.	1044
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
2001–	Old Boys University
correct as of 1 Sept 2006.
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2003–	Wellington	38	(55)
correct as of 19 September 2011.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2004–	New Zealand	50	(105)
correct as of 19 September, 2011.

Conrad Gerard Smith (born 12 October 1981 in Hawera, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He is a midfield back and plays outside centre (13). He had been in many Taranaki age group teams. He moved to Wellington where he completed an LLB(Hons) at Victoria University of Wellington. Smith has also been admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the High Court of New Zealand

He plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup. He was named captain of the Hurricanes for the 2007 Super 14 campaign as regular captain Rodney So'oialo was rested ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Smith attended Francis Douglas Memorial College and was a resident of Weir House whilst at Victoria University. He made his All Black debut age 22, versus Italy in 2004. In the 50 tests he has played he has scored a total of 105 test points (21 tries).^[1] He is affiliated with Old Boys University in the Wellington club rugby competition.

Smith's elusive running, die-hard tackling, deceptive turn of pace, as well as his guile and accuracy in his distribution, make him very handy at centre to provide a link between the inside backs and the back three (11, 14, 15).

Smith suffered breaks to two bones in his leg during a Super 14 match for the Hurricanes against the Force at New Plymouth on 18 February 2006.^[2] Smith returned to action during the Air New Zealand Cup later 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 Black's once more.

In 2011 Smith played for the Hurricanes in their Super 15 Season which saw them finish 4th in the New Zealand conference under the new Super 15 format.

Smith was the first choice centre for the Tri-Nations Tournament in which the All Blacks, while retaining the Bledisloe Cup relinquinshed the Tri-Nations Title to the Wallabies.

Conrad was a member of the 2011 Rugby World Cup Winning Squad playing in the Final against France at Eden Park in Auckland on the 23rd Oct 2011. He played an integral part in the midfield along with longtime Hurricanes teammate and 2nd Five (Inside Centre) M'aa Nonu, leaving the much higher profile rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams to spend much of the tournament as a super-sub.

References

1. ^ Conrad Smith at AllBlacks.com
2. ^ "Surgery for Smith". hurricanes.co.nz. http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=2. Retrieved 22 July 2006. 

External links

• Interview with Conrad Smith on The Rock's Morning Rumble – 22 Oct 2009
• Hurricanes profile
• Conrad Smith at AllBlacks.com

Persondata
Name	Smith, Conrad
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	12 October 1981
Place of birth	Hawera, Taranaki, New Zealand
Date of death
Place of death