Conrad Smith

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Conrad Smith
Full name	Conrad Smith
Date of birth	October 12, 1981 (age 25)
Place of birth	Hawera, Taranaki
Height	1.86 m
Weight	95 kg
Nickname	Snake
Rugby union career
Position	Centre
Amateur clubs
2001 - present	Old Boys University
correct as of 1 Sept 2006.
Provincial/State sides
2003 - current	Wellington
correct as of 9 September 2006.
Super Rugby		Caps	(points)
2003-current	Hurricanes
Current local club:	Massey
correct as of 9 September 2006.
National team(s)		Caps	(points)
2004-2002	New Zealand	7	(15)
correct as of 1 Sept 2006.
Other Information

Conrad Gerard Smith (born 10 December 1981 in Hawera, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He is a midfield back and plays second five-eighths (inside centre) (12) or outside centre (13). He had been in many Taranaki age group teams. He moved to Wellington to study law at Victoria University. Smith has not yet completed his bar exams but holds a Bachelor of Laws from the university.

He plays for the Wellington Hurricanes in the Super 14 and for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup.

Smith attended Francis Douglas Memorial College. He made his All Black debut age 22, versus Italy in 2004. In the 6 tests he has played he has scored a total of 10 test points (2 tries). He plays for Old Boys University in the Wellington premier competition.

His father Trevor played as a second five-eighths for Taranaki in the 1970s.

Smith suffered breaks to two bones in his leg during a Super 14 match for the Hurricanes against the Force at New Plymouth on 18 February 2006 and is currently out of action^[1], sparking voiciferous national debate as to the All Black centres combination for the 2006 international season.

Smith's elusive running and deceptive turn of pace, as well as his die-hard tackling, combined with his canny distributing abilities, make him very handy at centre to provide a link between the inside backs and the "Three-Quarters" (11, 14, 15). Despite his six tests of experience, he appears as the current incumbent All Black centre, despite his absence during the Tri-Nations series.

Conrad Smith has gained the apparant All Black selection at Centre (13) as of 22/10/06, as the only specialist centre selected in the squad. The two other possible substitutes for Centre that have been selected are Ma'a Nonu, who has apparantly been selected on the Wing position (11, 14) and Mils Muliaina, who is undoubtably the form Fullback (15) in New Zealand Rugby at present, with Leon MacDonald close on his heels.