David Smith (rugby footballer)

For other people of the same name, see David Smith (disambiguation).

David Smith

Full name	David Smith
Date of birth	October 12, 1986 (1986-10-12) (age 25)
Place of birth	Samoa
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	90 kg (14 st 2 lb)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Wing
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
	Wellington Lions Hurricanes Blues Auckland Taranaki Toulon	13 36 7 40 11 ??

David Smith (born 12 October 1986 in Samoa)^[1] is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays with Toulon in the French Top 14. He had most recently played provincial rugby in New Zealand for Taranaki in the ITM Cup, and before that for Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup, having played in the Super 14.

Early life and career

Smith grew up in the village of Manase. Smith was spotted whilst on a rugby tour to New Zealand and was subsequently offered a scholarship to attend Auckland's Mount Albert Grammar School. His mentor and coach was former All Blacks player Bryan Williams, with whom he trained before being brought into the wider Auckland training squad in 2005. After a year playing for Auckland B and the Auckland Sevens team, Smith, under the tutelage of coach Pat Lam, and with the guidance and help of fellow Samoan player Brad Mika, was selected in the 2006 Auckland NPC squad. In his debut season, Smith was touted by journalists as 'The Next Great Thing in Waiting', in August 2006.^[2]

Super 14 career

In late 2006 when he was named as one of the Hurricanes draft picks for the 2007 Rebel Sport Super 14 (Auckland currently have an abundance of wingers, making it very difficult for newer wingers to gain selection). This selection by Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper forced incumbent winger Roy Kinikinilau out of the team, who was subsequently drafted by the Highlanders franchise. Expected to start as a back-up wing for the Hurricanes, Smith was part of the starting line-up the first game of the season against the Queensland Reds, relegating Samoan international Lome Fa'atau to the bench for much of the season. By the season's end, David Smith had accumulated 12 Super Rugby caps as well as scoring his first try against the Vodacom Stormers of South Africa.

In 2010, Smith played for Taranaki in the New Zealand Provincial competition.

In November 2010, it was announced that the Western Force had signed Smith for the 2011 Super Rugby season. Following that season, he moved to France, signing with Toulon.

References

1. ^ David Smith rugby profile Scrum.com
2. ^ Rattue, Chris (25 August 2006). "The Next Great Thing in Waiting". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10397875. Retrieved 27 September 2011. 

External links

• Toulon profile
• Hurricanes Profile

Persondata
Name	Smith, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	12 October 1986
Place of birth	Samoa
Date of death
Place of death