- John Smit
Infobox Rugby biography
name = John Smit
caption = by Juiced Media (Pty) Ltd
birthname = John William Smit
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|4|3
placeofbirth = Pietersburg (now Polokwane),South Africa
height = height|m=1.88
weight = 117 kg (18 st 6 lb)
ru_position = hooker|capital=yes, flanker, Prop
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = South Africa
ru_nationalyears = 2000-present
ru_nationalcaps = 75
ru_nationalpoints = (20)
ru_ntupdate =2007-11-24
ru_clubyears = 2007–2008
ru_proclubs = Clermont
ru_clubcaps = 3
ru_clubpoints = (0)
ru_clubupdate =2007-11-18
super14 = Sharks
super14years = 1998-2007, 2008-
super14caps = 81
super14points = (25)
top14 = Clermont
top14caps =
top14years = 2007-2008
ru_currentclub =
super14update =2007-04-27
ru_province =Natal Sharks
ru_provinceyears = 1998
ru_provincecaps = ?
ru_provincepoints = (?)
ru_provinceupdate =
rl_amateuryears = 1990
rl_amateurclubs =Durban Crusaders
rl_amupdate =
rl_clubyears =
rl_proclubs =
rl_clubcaps =
rl_clubpoints =
rl_clubupdate =
other = yes
occupation = Professional rugby union footballer
spouse = Maxine
children = 1 daughter (Anna)
school =Pretoria Boys High School
university =University of Natal (briefly)John William Smit (born
3 April 1978 in Pietersburg,South Africa ) is the 50th and current captain of the South African nationalrugby union team, the Springboks. He plays the position of hooker.Smit went to
Pretoria Boys High School where he was head prefect in 1996 and played in the first rugby team from 1994 to 1996. Fact|date=June 2007Smit played his first Springbok game in
2000 at the age of 22, when South Africa beat Canada 51-18 atBasil Kenyon Stadium in East London. He was on and off of the reserve bench until2004 when he was made captain of the squad by then new coachJake White .As of
2005 Smit is one of South Africa's most successful captains ever, having lead the Springboks to victory in 16 of the 22 games that he captained, a win percentage of 72%. Fact|date=June 2007 This makes him just as successful as other South African captains such asGary Teichmann andFrancois Pienaar .Smit's leadership qualities came to the fore in the
2007 Rugby World Cup , his calm under pressure and inspirational captaincy seeing South Africa win theWilliam Web Ellis Trophy for the second time. Smit will also lead South Africa in the 2008 Tri Nations against Australia and New Zealand. In the first game against New Zealand in Wellington, he was spear tackled by New Zealand lock Brad Thorn who was suspended for one game, He now will miss the rest of the 2008 Tri-Nations because of a grion injury and veteran Springboks lock, Victor Matfield will lead the side.During the run-up to the
2007 Rugby World Cup , he was linked with the French club Clermont. [cite news |first=Nick |last=Cain |title=Player exodus threatens world order |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article1719922.ece |publisher=The Sunday Times |date=2007-04-29 |accessdate=2007-04-30] He eventually signed a two-year deal with Clermont, effective after the World Cup. [cite web|url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,,2-9-838_2158483,00.html |title=Matfield not lost to SA rugby |publisher="News24.com" |date=2007-08-03 |accessdate=2007-08-20] Despite his move to France, theSouth African Rugby Union announced on20 February 2008 that he would retain his Boks captaincy. Fact|date=July 2008. After just one year with Clermont John Smit resigned with TheNatal Sharks and the Super 14 side SharksNotes and references
External links
*Springboks|id=18977|name=John Smit
* [http://www.sarfu.co.za/ SA Rugby]
* [http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?Id=13913&des=content Sharks Rugby profile]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Smit&action=submit Sharks statistics]
* [http://www.genslin.us/bokke Springboks - Past and Present]
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