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Conrad Smith Ex All Blacks Centre

About Conrad Smith

Conrad Smith is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays predominantly at Centre. He captains the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, and plays for New Zealand internationally. He is a key member of 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams, becoming one of only twenty dual Rugby Union World Cup winners.

Smith plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, and also for Wellington in the ITM Cup. He made his Wellington debut in 2003, and was signed by the Hurricanes in 2004. Smith’s Hurricanes career has been plagued by injury, and having been injured in 2006, 2007 and 2011, he made just 66 appearances in his first eight seasons with the side. He is the current Hurricanes captain, having led the side for the first time in 2007 in place of the injured Rodney So’oialo.

He made his All Blacks debut age 22, versus Italy in 2004, after a meteoric rise which saw him make his professional debut just a season earlier. 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 Blacks.

Smith was a member of the 2011 Rugby World Cup winning squad playing in the final against France at Eden Park in Auckland on 23 October 2011.

Against the Argentina on 28 September 2013, Smith and inside centre Ma’a Nonu achieved a record fifty international games together.

Smith took a six-month break from rugby during the 2013 end-of-year tour, meaning he did not travel with the All Blacks squad to Japan and Europe.

Smith is to join Section Paloise after winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup for the second time.

Conrad retired from rugby in 2019 and has taken up a coaching role at Pau.

Statistics

Born: 12 October 1981, Hawera, New Zealand

Playing

2003-15: Wellington

2004-15: Hurricanes

2004-15: New Zealand

Conrad Smith's courses