George Smith (rugby player)

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George Smith
Image:George Smith.jpg
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Full name	George Smith
Date of birth	14 July 1980
Place of birth	Manly, NSW
Height	1.80 m
Weight	104 kg
Rugby union career
Position	Flanker
Super Rugby		Caps	(points)
2000-present	Brumbies	81	(75)
Current local club:	Manly
correct as of 31 August, 2006.
National team(s)
2000-present	Australia	69	(30)
correct as of 31 August, 2006.
Other Information
Occupation	Professional rugby union footballer
School  attended	Cromer High School, Sydney

George Smith (born 14 July 1980 in Manly, NSW) is an Australian rugby union player. He is a flanker for the Brumbies in Super 14. He has won 58 caps for the Australian national rugby union team since his test debut in 2000 against France in Paris.

Contents 1 Career 2 Off the field 3 Honours 4 Senior Tours 5 External Links 6 See also 7 References

[edit] Career

Despite his name, he is of Tongan descent. Until late 2006, when he decided to sell his dreadlocks for charity, he was easily recognised on the field by his dreadlocked hair style. For a member of the forward pack, he is a relatively small 180 cm and solid 103 kg (5'11", 227 lb); his gameplay around rucks and mauls is fearless and frequently turns over the ball in favour of Australia. Smith is known as a work horse around the field. His skills with ball in hand are very rare for a forward yet he is also a damaging tackler in defence. He is widely regarded as the worlds best openside flanker, with his major ability stealing ruck ball.

He is often voted Players' Player of the Year ^{[citation needed]}, awarded for fair-play by his team mates and officials. He has recently been chosen as a member of the Wallaby Team of the Decade, a remarkable feat considering his age and one of only three current players picked. In 2002, he was the first recipient of the John Eales Medal, awarded by the Australian Rugby Union and the Rugby Union Players' Association to their Player of the Year^[1].

He won the Australian Super 14 player of the year in 2006 ^[2]

[edit] Off the field

Off the field, George Smith takes part in many coaching clinics for children and is the current face of Australian version of Electronic Arts' video game Rugby 2005. In 2006 Smith chopped off his dreadlocks for charity. He told the Daily Telegraph "I wouldn't expect much for the (dreadlocks), but anything for the charity would be great.". They were given to a charity for younger people with cancer.

[edit] Honours

• Australian U16s 1996
• Australian Schoolboys 1997 - 1998
• Australian U19s 1999
• Australian U21s 2000
• Australia A 2004
• Australian Wallabies 2000 -

[edit] Senior Tours

• 2000 Japan, France & UK
• 2001 UK & Europe
• 2002 Argentina, UK & Europe
• 2003 Rugby World Cup (Aus)
• 2004 UK & France
• 2005 UK & France

[edit] External Links

• Wallabies Profile
• Brumbies Profile

[edit] See also

• Wallaby Team of the Decade
• The Wallabies
• The Brumbies
• Super 14

[edit] References

1. ^ "The John Eales Medal", The Rugby Union Players' Association, 2006-08-31. Retrieved on 2006-08-31.
2. ^ "Smith crowned player of series", Fox News, 2006-06-01. Retrieved on 2006-08-31.

Preceded by: Inaugural award

John Eales Medal 2002

Succeeded by: Phil Waugh