Fletcher Smith (rugby union)

Fletcher Smith

Date of birth	(1995-03-01) 1 March 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth	Nelson, New Zealand
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	88 kg (194 lb; 13 st 12 lb)
School	Christchurch Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth, Fullback Current team Waikato, NTT Shining Arcs Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2015–2017 Otago 34 (287) 2016–2018 Highlanders 16 (34) 2018– Waikato 40 (301) 2019–2020 Hurricanes 13 (29) 2021 NTT Shining Arcs 3 (26) 2022 Green Rockets Tokatsu 8 (76) 2022- Lyon 1 (0) Correct as of 12 September 2022 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2015 New Zealand U20 2 (9) 2019 Māori All Blacks 2 (0) Correct as of 12 June 2020

Fletcher Smith (born 1 March 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth for Lyon in France’s league the Top 14.[1] He has also represented the Highlanders.[2][3][4] He is Māori of Ngāti Kahungunu descent.

Early career

Raised in Nelson on New Zealand's South Island, Smith initially attended Nelson College in his hometown before finishing off his schooling at Christchurch Boys' High School, playing first XV rugby for them and wearing the same number 10 jersey that Dan Carter, Andrew Mehrtens and Aaron Mauger had worn before him. After graduating high school, he headed south to Dunedin to study commerce at the University of Otago and played local club rugby for the university's team during his time there.[5]

Senior career

Smith got his senior career under way in 2015, turning out 11 times for Otago in the ITM Cup Championship and helping them to a third-place finish. He then played all of the Razorbacks 12 games in 2016 and kicked 106 points as they topped the Championship log but were defeated 17-14 by North Harbour, consigning them to another season of Championship rugby in 2017.[6]

Super Rugby

Smith earned a short-term contract with the Highlanders towards the end of the 2016 season and made two substitute appearances in which he kicked one conversion.[7] He was subsequently promoted to the franchise's full squad for the 2017 Super Rugby season.[4]

Super Rugby statistics

As of 16 August 2016[6]

Season	Team	Games	Starts	Sub	Mins	Tries	Cons	Pens	Drops	Points	Yel	Red
2016	Highlanders	2	0	2	14	0	1	0	0	2	0	0
Total		2	0	2	14	0	1	0	0	2	0	0

References

1. "Fletcher Smith". Hurricanes. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
2. "Fletcher Smith Otago Rugby Union Player Profile". Otago Rugby. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
3. "Fletcher Smith Highlanders Player Profile". Highlanders Rugby. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
4. "Highlanders 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
5. "Rugby: Learning curve for Smith". Otago Daily Times. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
6. "Fletcher Smith itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
7. "Highlanders include seven All Blacks for Jaguares". Super XV.com. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

External links

• Fletcher Smith at European Professional Club Rugby
• Fletcher Smith at ESPNscrum
• Fletcher Smith at ItsRugby.co.uk