Chris Smith (rugby union)

Chris Smith
Full nameChristopher William Smith
Date of birth (1994-09-09) 9 September 1994 (age 30)
Place of birthCape Town, South Africa
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Weight91 kg (201 lb; 14 st 5 lb)
SchoolSouth African College Schools
UniversityUniversity of Stellenbosch
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Bulls / Blue Bulls
Youth career
2013–2015 Western Province
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2019 Pumas 29 (310)
2019– Bulls 63 (399)
2020– Blue Bulls 24 (160)
Correct as of 23 July 2022

Christopher William Smith (born 9 September 1994) is a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup.[1] His regular position is fly-half.

He was a member of the Pumas squad that won the 2018 Rugby Challenge,[2] featuring in ten of their eleven matches and finishing as the competition's top scorer with 131 points.[3]

Career

After playing in the South African College Schools first team in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Smith found himself at loose end but fortunately Smith was invited by John Dobson (rugby union coach) to join the Western Province Rugby institute. Smith went on to play in the Western Province (rugby union) u21 team in both 2014 and 2015, where the team won the Currie Cup with the likes of Jacques Vermeulen, Huw Jones (rugby union), Dan du Plessis, EW Viljoen, and school compatriots Luke van der Smit and Gino Lupini. After u21 seasons Smith played in the Varsity Cup where he found himself playing for the University of Stellenbosch, playing with future springboks such as Robert du Preez (rugby union, born 1993). He was then sign in 2018 to the Pumas and 2019 to the Bulls.

Honours

  • SuperSport Rugby Challenge winner 2018
  • SuperSport Rugby Challenge Player of the Year 2018
  • Super Rugby Unlocked winner 2020
  • Currie Cup winner 2020–21, 2021
  • Pro14 Rainbow Cup runner-up 2021
  • United Rugby Championship runner-up 2021-22
  • URC Gilbert Golden Boot award for 2023-24 season.

References

  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Chris Smith". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  2. ^ "iCOLLEGE Pumas clinch Final in style" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 15 July 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  3. ^ "2018 SuperSport Rugby Challenge | Stats". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 18 August 2018.