Greg Smith (rugby union)
| Full name | Gregory James Smith | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | July 14, 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Hamilton, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 106 kg (234 lb) | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Hooker | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2000-2001 | Swansea | 9 (0)[1] | |
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| Waikato | 70 | ||
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1997–03 | Chiefs | 48 | (0) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1995-2003 |  Fiji |
46 | (5) |
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| 2014-2015 | New Zealand women | ||
Gregory James Smith (born 14 July 1974 in Hamilton, New Zealand[2]) is a former Fijian rugby union footballer. He played as a hooker.
Career
Smith is 1.82m tall and weighs 106 kg. He was born and raised in New Zealand but he qualified to play for Fiji because his father was born in Fiji. He was first selected for Fiji by former coach Brad Johnstone on the recommendation of Waikato's John Boe.
He toured the UK with the Fiji team in 1995 and he made his debut against Wales which Fiji lost by 21-22. He joined the Waikato Rugby Union after that and he made it into the Chiefs squad for the Super 12 competition. He played for the Chiefs for three (3) years before leaving New Zealand and going to Europe to play for the Swansea club in Wales. He returned a year later to play in the NPC match against Auckland but lost in the final. A neck injury kept him out of the 2001 tour to Italy and France and then a foot injury saw him miss the 2003 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in June and July 2002 and he also missed the test against Australia and Argentina but he recovered in time for the 2003 Rugby World Cup and he was made captain of the Fiji team
After retiring in 2005, has was made a resource coach for the Black Ferns, and was recently appointed as an assistant coach to Samoa. He also coached for three years in Japan and held a number of provincial coaching roles including a specialist resource coach role for the Chiefs.
In December 2014, he was made the Head Coach for the Black ferns team through to the next Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017.[3] Smith voluntarily stepped down as New Zealand women's head coach on 16 June 2015.[4]
Greg has recently come out of retirement to play fullback for the Fraser Tech Under 85 kg B's. His electric speed, and ability to read the game from the back has been recognised by the club. In 2015, Greg was awarded the Suzan Hassle Sheild (awarded to the clubs' Most Improved Player.)
Fiji Team
Smith also attended Waikato University from 1993–1996 and was friends with Robert Diver.
- Test debut: 1995 vs Wales in Cardiff
- 44 caps 1 try 5 pts (70 games 1 try)
His nephew, Carter Edgecombe- The son of his sister Anne, is an outstanding human.
Notes
- ↑ Gregory James Smith www.swansearfc.co.uk
- ↑ Greg Smith rugby player Scrum.com
- ↑ "Greg Smith appointed Black Ferns Head Coach". Retrieved 2014-12-23.
- ↑ "Smith stands down as Head Coach for tour". ALLBLACKS.COM. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.