Aaron Smith (rugby union)

Aaron Smith
Full name Aaron Luke Smith
Date of birth (1988-11-21) 21 November 1988
Place of birth Feilding, New Zealand
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)[1]
School Feilding High School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Halfback
New Zealand No. 1112
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
Feilding RFC[2]
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2008– Manawatu 43 (45)
correct as of 16 October 2016.
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2011– Highlanders 94 (95)
correct as of 31 July 2016.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2010
2012–		 Māori All Blacks
New Zealand		 3
58		 (0)
(62)
correct as of 26 November 2016.

Aaron Luke Smith (born 21 November 1988) is a rugby union player who plays for New Zealand – the All Blacks – in international rugby. He plays at half back in the team. Smith played for the Māori All Blacks in 2010, and was first selected for the All Blacks in 2012.[3] He was a key member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup winning team. He also plays for the Highlanders in Super Rugby, and for Manawatu in the ITM Cup.

Playing career

Provincial rugby

Smith made his debut for Manawatu in the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup at the age of 19, making several substitute appearances for the Turbos. This included the historic 25–24 win over Canterbury in Round 1 and the 38–38 draw with Waikato in Round 3.[4][5][6]

For the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup, Smith established himself as the first-choice half-back for Manawatu, starting all 13 games over the course of the season and scoring his first representative try.[7] He continued as the starter in the 2010 ITM Cup, and established himself as one of the top half-backs in the competition and earning a Super Rugby contract.[8][9]

In the 2011 ITM Cup, Smith continued to improve and had a successful season, scoring five tries helping the improved Manawatu squad which reached the Championship final.

Super Rugby

Aaron Smith playing for the Highlanders

Smith was included in the Blues wider training group for the 2010 Super 14 season, but did not see any game action for the Auckland-based side.[10]

For the 2011 Super Rugby season, Smith signed for the Highlanders, coached by Jamie Joseph, who had previously coached Smith with the New Zealand Māori. Smith had a successful debut season, beating out Sean Romans for the job as backup to starting half-back (and All Black) Jimmy Cowan, and made 12 appearances including 3 starts.

International career

On the back of his strong performances for Manawatu, Smith, of Ngāti Kahungunu descent, was selected to the New Zealand Māori for their 2010 Centenary Series.[3][10][11] He came on as a substitute against the New Zealand Barbarians after Chris Smylie suffered a fractured cheekbone, and started in the squad's historic victories over Ireland and England.[12][13]

On the back of a successful Highlanders season Smith made his All Blacks debut on 9 June 2012, against Ireland.[14] By the time of the 2013 season Smith had become the first choice halfback for the national team.

Smith has been selected for every New Zealand squad since 2013, including the 2015 Rugby World Cup squad where he started in all the knockout games. Smith became the leader of the All Blacks' haka in 2016, following the retirement of Keven Mealamu and Liam Messam's decision to swap to New Zealand's rugby 7s squad, first leading the haka against Wales at Eden Park.

Smith played his 50th international test match in the final test against Wales, alongside lock Brodie Retallick who he debuted with.

References

  1. ↑ "Aaron Smith". www.allblacks.com. New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  2. ↑ Lampp, Peter (4 June 2012). "Feilding's Smith makes ABs". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 Knowler, Richard (16 June 2012). "The rise of All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith". Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Turbos 2008 Air New Zealand Cup Squad Named". www.manawaturugby.co.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Manawatu stuns Canterbury in upset". itmcup.co.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  6. ↑ "Turbos comeback leads to draw". itmcup.co.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "2009 Manawatu Turbos Air New Zealand Squad". www.manawaturugby.co.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Final details on the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup squads". itmcup.co.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Player Profile: Aaron Smith, The Highlanders". thehighlanders.co.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  10. 1 2 Knowler, Richard (23 June 2012). "Diminutive halves the pride of Manawatu". Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "NZ Maori team to play England named". allblacks.com. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "New Zealand Maori 31–28 Ireland". BBC. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "New Zealand Maori 35–28 England". BBC. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  14. ↑ Robson, Toby (11 June 2012). "Young guns at home in All Blacks side". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Liam Messam		 Tom French Memorial
Māori rugby union player of the year
2014 		Succeeded by
Nehe Milner-Skudder
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