Conrad Smith facts for kids
.jpg)
Smith in 2021
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Conrad Gerard Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 October 1981 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hāwera, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Francis Douglas Memorial College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Victoria University of Wellington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conrad Gerard Smith (born on October 12, 1981) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He mostly played as a centre.
Conrad was the captain for the Hurricanes team in Super Rugby. He also played for the New Zealand national team from 2004 to 2015. He was a very important player when New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015. After the 2015 World Cup, he stopped playing international rugby. He then played for a French team called Pau until he retired in 2018.
After he stopped playing, Conrad became a defence coach for Pau. In 2020, he took on a bigger role as the club's High Performance Manager. He moved back to New Zealand in 2021. He still works for International Rugby Players, an organization based in Dublin.
Contents
Early Life and School
Conrad Smith grew up playing rugby in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand. He played for different age groups there. He went to St Joseph's Catholic School and Francis Douglas Memorial College. Both schools are in New Plymouth.
Besides rugby, Conrad was also very good at cricket. He was known as a fast bowler. His nickname "Snakey" came from how he moved when fielding in cricket. His coach said he moved like a snake. After high school, he moved to Wellington. There, he studied law at Victoria University of Wellington.
Playing for Clubs
Conrad Smith played most of his club career for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. He also played for Wellington in the ITM Cup.
- He first played for Wellington in 2003.
- The Hurricanes signed him in 2004.
- Conrad often faced injuries during his time with the Hurricanes.
- He played 66 games in his first eight seasons with the team.
- He became the Hurricanes captain in 2007.
- He led the team until the end of the 2015 season.
In February 2015, Conrad announced that the 2015 Super Rugby season would be his last with the Hurricanes. He planned to join the French team Pau on a two-year contract. He played his first game for Pau on December 19, 2015. This was in a European Rugby Challenge Cup match against the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Playing for New Zealand
Conrad Smith made his debut for the All Blacks (New Zealand's national team) in 2004. He was 22 years old when he played against Italy. This was a quick rise for him, as he had only started playing professionally one season before.
In 2006, he joined the All Blacks for their tour to Europe. This happened even though he had broken his leg earlier that year. In 2007, he had more injuries. But he worked hard to get back into the starting team. By 2008, he was the top choice centre for the All Blacks.
Rugby World Cup Wins
Conrad was part of the team that won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He played in the final game against France in Auckland on October 23, 2011.
On September 28, 2013, Conrad Smith and his teammate Ma'a Nonu played their 50th international game together. This was a record for a midfield partnership. Conrad took a six-month break from rugby in late 2013. He did not travel with the All Blacks to Japan and Europe.
In 2015, Conrad was chosen for New Zealand's Rugby World Cup team for the third time. The All Blacks won this tournament too. Conrad played a very important role, starting in all six matches. After this tournament, he retired from international rugby. He was one of six senior players who retired then.
Other Activities
Outside of playing rugby, Conrad Smith is involved with the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA). He is a Player Representative on their board. In 2015, he and Richie McCaw were chosen to represent New Zealand. They joined a group of 48 players in the Player Advisory Group for the International Rugby Players Association (IRPA).
Personal Life
Conrad Smith married Leanne Snowdon in October 2013. In August 2014, he missed a test match in Sydney. This was so he could be there for the birth of their first child, a boy.
Awards and Achievements
Personal Awards
- Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rugby (2016)
- Steinlager Investec Super Rugby Player of the Year
- Wellington Sportsperson of the Year
- The Dominion Post Personality of the Year
- Record Midfield Partnerships (with Ma'a Nonu)
Hurricanes Team Achievements
- Hurricanes Captain
- Super Rugby Centurion (played 100 games)
- Most Capped Hurricanes Player (with Ma'a Nonu)
- Conference Winner 2015
New Zealand Team Achievements
- Tri Nations/The Rugby Championship Champion: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014
- British and Irish Lions Series Victory: 2005
- Home Nations Grand Slam Tour: 2005, 2008, and 2010
- Rugby World Cup Winner: 2011 and 2015
See also
In Spanish: Conrad Smith para niños
