 Smit heading out for a game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | John William Smit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | (1978-04-03)3 April 1978 (age 46) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Pietersburg, South Africa (nowPolokwane, South Africa) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 268 lb (122 kg; 19 st 2 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Pretoria Boys High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Natal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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John William Smit,OIS, (born 3 April 1978) is a South African former professionalrugby union player and former chief executive officer ofthe Sharks. He was the 50thcaptain of the Springbok rugby union team and led the team to win the2007 Rugby World Cup. He played most of his senior career as ahooker, but also won 13 caps as aprop, where he had also played for South Africa's under-21 team.[2] He retired from international rugby following the2011 Rugby World Cup as the most-capped South African player ever, with 111 appearances.
Smit was inducted into theIRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011 (while still active at club level), alongside all other World Cup-winning captains and head coaches from the tournament's inception in 1987 through 2007 (minus the previously inductedJohn Eales).[3]
Born 3 April 1978 inPietersburg, South Africa, Smit attendedWesvalia (then Saamtrek) in Klerksdorp and then went on toPretoria Boys High School where he was head prefect in 1996 and played for the school's first XV from 1994 to 1996.[4]
Smit played his first Springbok game in 2000 at the age of 22, when South Africa beatCanada 51–18 atBasil Kenyon Stadium inEast London. Between October 2003 and June 2007, Smit played in a record 46 consecutive Test matches for South Africa, though it was not until 2004, when he was made captain of the squad by then new coachJake White, that he became a regular member of the starting XV.
Smit's record-breaking sequence of appearances came to an end with South Africa's first match of the2007 Tri Nations, against Australia, when he suffered an injury that prevented him taking any further part in the tournament. He recovered from his injury in time to take part in the2007 Rugby World Cup, in which he started in 6 out of 7 South African matches and in which his leadership qualities came to the fore, saw South Africa win theWilliam Web Ellis Trophy for the second time.
WhenPeter de Villiers was appointed as the new South Africa coach in 2008, one of his first decisions was to re-appoint Smit as the captain of the national side.[5] Smit led South Africa in their opening game of the2008 Tri Nations, against New Zealand in Wellington, but suffered a groin injury when he was lifted and dumped by New Zealand lockBrad Thorn after the whistle had blown: Thorn received a one-match suspension[6] but Smit missed the rest of the tournament, being replaced as captain by veteran Springbok lock,Victor Matfield.
In 2009, Smit led South Africa to a series victory against the visitingBritish & Irish Lions, and followed this by leading his team to success in the2009 Tri Nations, in which South Africa won five of their six matches, including a clean sweep of three wins against New Zealand.
In the first test against New Zealand, Smit equalled the record of 59 Tests as captain held by Australia'sGeorge Gregan and England'sWill Carling. The following week, he became the most-capped captain in international rugby history.[7]
As of September 2009, Smit is one of South Africa's most successfulcaptains ever, having led the Springboks to victory in 46 of the 64 games that he captained, a win percentage of 72%.[8] He has won more tests as captain than any other Springbok has played as captain.[7]On 23 August 2010, he played his 100th Test – only the 15th player ever, and second South African to reach that milestone.[9]
After his Springbok retirement his record as captain for the most international games was broken, by Ireland'sBrian O'Driscoll in 2012 and New Zealand'sRichie McCaw in 2013.
| Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Italy | Genoa,Italy | Stadio Marassi | 2001 end-of-year rugby internationals | 17 November 2001 | Win | 26 –54 |
| 2 |  Wales | Pretoria,South Africa | Loftus Versfeld Stadium | 2004 June rugby union tests | 26 June 2004 | Win | 53 – 18 |
| 3 |  Samoa | Johannesburg,South Africa | Ellis Park | 2007 June rugby union tests | 9 June 2007 | Win | 35 – 8 |
| 4 |  Fiji | Marseille,France | Stade Vélodrome | 2007 Rugby World Cup | 7 October 2007 | Win | 37 – 20 |
| 5 |  British and Irish Lions | Durban,South Africa | ABSA Stadium | 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa | 20 June 2009 | Win | 26 – 21 |
| 6 |  France | Toulouse,France | Stadium Municipal | 2009 end-of-year rugby union internationals | 13 November 2009 | Loss | 20 –13 |
| 7 |  Australia | Sydney,Australia | ANZ Stadium | 2011 Tri Nations Series | 23 July 2011 | Loss | 39 –20 |
| 8 |  New Zealand | Wellington,New Zealand | Westpac Stadium | 2011 Tri Nations Series | 30 July 2011 | Loss | 40 –7 |
During the run-up to the2007 Rugby World Cup, he was linked with theFrench clubClermont.[11] He eventually signed a two-year deal with Clermont, effective after the World Cup.[12] Despite his move to France, theSouth African Rugby Union announced on 20 February 2008 that he would retain his Boks captaincy.[citation needed]. After just one year with Clermont, Smit rejoined theSharks and the Super 14 sideSharks.
Smit captained South Africa in their 2–1 series win over theBritish & Irish Lions.
| Year | Result | Opposing Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2–0 |  Ireland |
| 2005 | 1–0 | France |
| 2006 | 2–0 |  Scotland |
| 2007 | 2–0 |  England |
| 2008 | 2–0 | Wales |
| 2009 | 2–1 | British & Irish Lions |
| 2010 | 2–0 | Italy |
| Rugby Union Captain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | IRB World Cup winning captain 2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Springbok Captain 2003–11 | Succeeded by |
