David Smith (rugby footballer)
Encyclopedia
David Smith is a New Zealand
rugby union
player who plays with Toulon
in the French Top 14. He had most recently played provincial rugby in New Zealand for Taranaki in the ITM Cup, and before that for Auckland
in the Air New Zealand Cup
, having played in the Super 14.
. His mentor and coach was former All Blacks
player Bryan Williams, with whom he trained before being brought into the wider Auckland training squad in 2005. After a year playing for Auckland B and the Auckland Sevens
team, Smith, under the tutelage of coach Pat Lam
, and with the guidance and help of fellow Samoan player Brad Mika
, was selected in the 2006 Auckland NPC
squad. In his debut season, Smith was touted by journalists as 'The Next Great Thing in Waiting', in August 2006.
draft picks for the 2007 Rebel Sport Super 14
(Auckland currently have an abundance of wingers, making it very difficult for newer wingers to gain selection). This selection by Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper
forced incumbent winger Roy Kinikinilau
out of the team, who was subsequently drafted by the Highlanders
franchise. Expected to start as a back-up wing for the Hurricanes, Smith was part of the starting line-up the first game of the season against the Queensland Reds
, relegating Samoan international Lome Fa'atau
to the bench for much of the season. By the season's end, David Smith had accumulated 12 Super Rugby caps as well as scoring his first try against the Vodacom Stormers
of South Africa.
In 2010, Smith played for Taranaki in the New Zealand Provincial competition.
In November 2010, it was announced that the Western Force
had signed Smith for the 2011 Super Rugby season. Following that season, he moved to France, signing with Toulon.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby union
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 with Toulon
RC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais is a French professional rugby union club based in Toulon in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
in the French Top 14. He had most recently played provincial rugby in New Zealand for Taranaki in the ITM Cup, and before that for Auckland
Auckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
in the Air New Zealand Cup
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
, having played in the Super 14.
Early life and career
Smith grew up in the village of Manase. Smith was spotted whilst on a rugby tour to New Zealand and was subsequently offered a scholarship to attend Auckland's Mount Albert Grammar SchoolMount Albert Grammar School
Mount Albert Grammar School, or MAGS, is a co-educational secondary school in Central Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches from year 9 to year 13. Mount Albert Grammar is one of the largest secondary schools in the country...
. His mentor and coach was former All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
player Bryan Williams, with whom he trained before being brought into the wider Auckland training squad in 2005. After a year playing for Auckland B and the Auckland Sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
team, Smith, under the tutelage of coach Pat Lam
Pat Lam
Patrick Richard Lam is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer, of Samoan descent. He was the head coach of Auckland before being appointed head coach of Super 14 team the Blues in 2009. He went to St. Peter's College, Epsom, and captained the New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby team...
, and with the guidance and help of fellow Samoan player Brad Mika
Brad Mika
Bradley Moni Mika is a New Zealander rugby union player. His position is lock. He was educated at St Peter's College....
, was selected in the 2006 Auckland NPC
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
squad. In his debut season, Smith was touted by journalists as 'The Next Great Thing in Waiting', in August 2006.
Super 14 career
In late 2006 when he was named as one of the HurricanesHurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...
draft picks for the 2007 Rebel Sport Super 14
2007 Super 14 season
The 2007 Super 14 season started in February 2007 with preseason matches held from mid-January. It finished on 19 May with the final at ABSA Stadium in Durban, in the first final between two South African teams in the history of Super Rugby...
(Auckland currently have an abundance of wingers, making it very difficult for newer wingers to gain selection). This selection by Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper
Colin Cooper (rugby)
Colin Cooper is the head coach of Taranaki's provincial rugby union side in New Zealand. He has previously been the head coach of rugby union Super 14 side, the Hurricanes. In his playing days, Cooper was also loose forward for the Taranaki province in his native New Zealand.-Management:Following...
forced incumbent winger Roy Kinikinilau
Roy Kinikinilau
Roy Kinikinilau is a rugby union player who plays for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Top League in Japan. A powerful winger, Kinkinilau is also an accomplished rugby sevens player. Born in Tonga, he represented New Zealand internationally in rugby sevens competitions.-Provincial Rugby:Kinkinilau was...
out of the team, who was subsequently drafted by the Highlanders
Highlanders (Super rugby franchise)
The Highlanders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin that compete in Super Rugby. The franchise represents the North Otago, Otago and Southland provincial Rugby unions. The Highlanders take their name from the Scottish immigrants that helped found the Otago, North...
franchise. Expected to start as a back-up wing for the Hurricanes, Smith was part of the starting line-up the first game of the season against the Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
, relegating Samoan international Lome Fa'atau
Lome Fa'atau
Lome Fa'atau is a rugby union player. He currently plays for the Rugby Nice Côte d'Azur in the French Fédérale 1. The speedy winger is recognisable by his traditional Samoan tattoo ....
to the bench for much of the season. By the season's end, David Smith had accumulated 12 Super Rugby caps as well as scoring his first try against the Vodacom Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
of South Africa.
In 2010, Smith played for Taranaki in the New Zealand Provincial competition.
In November 2010, it was announced that the Western Force
Western Force
Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th...
had signed Smith for the 2011 Super Rugby season. Following that season, he moved to France, signing with Toulon.