Aaron Smith (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
Aaron Smith is a rugby union
player who plays at scrum-half for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition and for Manawatu in the ITM Cup.
at the age of only 19, making several substitute appearances for the Turbos.
For the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup
, Smith established himself as the fist-choice scrum half for Manawatu, starting all 13 games over the course of the season and scoring his first representative try. He continued as the starter in the 2010 ITM Cup
, establishing himself as one of the top scrum halves in the competition and earning a Super Rugby contract.
In the 2011 ITM Cup
, Smith continued to improve and had an outstanding season, scoring 5 tries as one of the lynchpin players on a vasstly improved Manawatu squad which reached the Championship final.
, but did not see any game action for the Auckland-based club.
For the 2011 Super Rugby season, Smith signed for the Highlanders to play under Jamie Joseph
, who had previously coached Smith with the New Zealand Māori
. He had an extremely successful debut season, beating out Sean Romans
for the job as backup to starting scrum-half and All-Black Jimmy Cowan
, and made 12 appearances including 3 starts.
for their 2010 Centenary Series. He came on as a substitute against the Barbarians after Chris Smylie
suffered a fractured cheekbone, and started in the squad's historic victories over Ireland
and England
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who plays at scrum-half for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition and for Manawatu in the ITM Cup.
Provincial Rugby
Smith made his debut for Manawatu in the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup2008 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2008 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Thursday 31 July 2008, and continued until the final on 25 October 2008....
at the age of only 19, making several substitute appearances for the Turbos.
For the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup
2009 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2009 Air New Zealand Cup was the 33rd provincial rugby union competition, the fourth since the competition reconstruction in 2006, involving the top 14 provincial unions in New Zealand. It ran for 15 weeks from 30 July to 7 November...
, Smith established himself as the fist-choice scrum half for Manawatu, starting all 13 games over the course of the season and scoring his first representative try. He continued as the starter in the 2010 ITM Cup
2010 ITM Cup
The 2010 ITM Cup was the 34th provincial rugby union competition, the fifth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the first under the new sponsor of ITM , involving the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand...
, establishing himself as one of the top scrum halves in the competition and earning a Super Rugby contract.
In the 2011 ITM Cup
2011 ITM Cup
The 2011 ITM Cup is the 35th provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand, the sixth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the second under the new sponsor of ITM ....
, Smith continued to improve and had an outstanding season, scoring 5 tries as one of the lynchpin players on a vasstly improved Manawatu squad which reached the Championship final.
Super Rugby
Smith was included in the Blues wider training group for the 2010 Super 14 season2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...
, but did not see any game action for the Auckland-based club.
For the 2011 Super Rugby season, Smith signed for the Highlanders to play under Jamie Joseph
Jamie Joseph
James Whitinui Joseph is a former All Black flanker.Joseph's All Blacks career spanned 30 matches including 20 tests from 1992 to 1995 including the 1995 World Cup....
, who had previously coached Smith with the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
. He had an extremely successful debut season, beating out Sean Romans
Sean Romans
Sean Romans is a rugby union player who plays at scrum-half for the Highlanders in Super 14 and Otago in the ITM Cup.-Provincial Rugby:...
for the job as backup to starting scrum-half and All-Black Jimmy Cowan
Jimmy Cowan
Quinton James Cowan is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He has been an All Black since 2004 where he made his debut during the 2004 tour to the United Kingdom and France. Cowan was born in Gore and attended Gore High School...
, and made 12 appearances including 3 starts.
International Play
On the back of his strong performances for Manawatu, Smith was selected to the New Zealand MāoriNew Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
for their 2010 Centenary Series. He came on as a substitute against the Barbarians after Chris Smylie
Chris Smylie
Chris Smylie is a New Zealand rugby union player, who plays at halfback. Although he made his provincial debut for North Harbour in 2002, he currently plays for Otago in the NPC and the Highlanders in the Super 14, and has been named in the New Zealand Māori squad for 2006.Smylie was named NPC...
suffered a fractured cheekbone, and started in the squad's historic victories over Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
.