View source for John Smit

{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography 
| name = John William Smit
| image = John Smit.jpg
| caption = Smit heading out for a game
| birth_name = John William Smit
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|4|3}}
| birth_place = [[Polokwane|Pietersburg, South Africa]] (now [[Polokwane, South Africa]]) 
| children = 3
| school = [[Pretoria Boys High School]]
| university = [[University of Natal]]
| height = {{height|m=1.88}}
| weight = {{convert|268|lb|kg stlb|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/saracens.php?section=1 |title=Aviva Premiership Rugby – Saracens |work=web page |publisher=Premier Rugby |access-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203072807/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/saracens.php?section=1 |archive-date= 3 February 2012 }}</ref>
| ru_position = [[Hooker (rugby union)|Hooker]], [[Prop (rugby union)|prop]]
| amatyears1 = 1997          | amatteam1    = [[University of Natal]] (Maritzburg)
| amatyears                  | amatteam2    = [[Durban Crusaders]] 
| ru_amupdate =
| repyears1 = 2000–2011      | repteam1     = {{nrut|South Africa}}
| repcaps1 = 111             | reppoints1   = 40
| years1 = 2007–2008         | clubs1       = [[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont]]
| years2 = 2011–2013         
| clubs2       = [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]]
| apps1 = 3                  
| points1      = 5
| apps2 = 46                 
| points2      = 10
| superyears1 = 1998–2011    
| super1       = [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]
| superapps1 = 125           
| superpoints1 = 40
| provinceyears1 = 1998–2011 
| province1    = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}
| provinceapps1 =            
| provincepoints1 = 
| medals          = 
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Rugby union]]}} 
{{MedalCountry|{{ru|RSA}}}} 
{{MedalCompetition|[[Rugby World Cup]]}} 
{{MedalGold|[[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 England]]|[[2007 Rugby World Cup squads|Squad]]}} 
}}
'''John William Smit''', [[Order of Ikhamanga|OIS]], (born 3 April 1978) is a South African former professional [[rugby union]] player and former chief executive officer of [[Sharks (rugby union)|the Sharks]]. He was the 50th [[South African rugby union captains|captain]] of the Springbok rugby union team and led the team to win the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]]. He played most of his senior career as a [[Hooker (rugby union)|hooker]], but also won 13 caps as a [[Prop (rugby union)|prop]], where he had also played for South Africa's under-21 team.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=871125 |title=Smit must reinvent Bok role |first=Craig |last=Ray |publisher=[[Sunday Times (South Africa)|The Sunday Times (Johannesburg)]] |date=27 October 2008 |access-date=27 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220162846/http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=871125 |archive-date=20 February 2009 }}</ref> He retired from international rugby following the [[2011 Rugby World Cup]] as the most-capped South African player ever, with 111 appearances.

Smit was inducted into the [[IRB Hall of Fame]] on 24 October 2011 (while still active at club level), alongside all other World Cup-winning captains and head coaches from the tournament's inception in 1987 through 2007 (minus the previously inducted [[John Eales]]).<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid=2060049.html#rwc+legends+inducted+into+irb+hall+fame |title=RWC legends inducted into IRB Hall of Fame |publisher=International Rugby Board |date=26 October 2011 |access-date=26 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027230745/http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid%3D2060049.html#rwc+legends+inducted+into+irb+hall+fame |archive-date=27 October 2011 }}</ref>

== Early life ==
Born 3 April 1978 in [[Polokwane|Pietersburg]], South Africa, Smit attended [[Wesvalia]] (then Saamtrek) in Klerksdorp and then went on to [[Pretoria Boys High School]] where he was head prefect in 1996 and played for the school's first XV from 1994 to 1996.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/TriNations/Smit-coaches-present-jerseys-20100820 |title=Smit coaches present jerseys|publisher=[[News24 (website)|Sport24]] |date=20 August 2010 |access-date=12 April 2013}}</ref>

== Springbok career ==
Smit played his first Springbok game in 2000 at the age of 22, when South Africa beat [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]] 51–18 at [[Basil Kenyon Stadium]] in [[East London, Eastern Cape|East London]]. Between October 2003 and June 2007, Smit played in a record 46 consecutive Test matches for South Africa, though it was not until 2004, when he was made captain of the squad by then new coach [[Jake White]], that he became a regular member of the starting XV.

Smit's record-breaking sequence of appearances came to an end with South Africa's first match of the [[2007 Tri Nations Series|2007 Tri Nations]], against Australia, when he suffered an injury that prevented him taking any further part in the tournament. He recovered from his injury in time to take part in the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]], in which he started in 6 out of 7 South African matches and in which his leadership qualities came to the fore, saw South Africa win the [[William Web Ellis]] Trophy for the second time.

When [[Peter de Villiers]] was appointed as the new South Africa coach in 2008, one of his first decisions was to re-appoint Smit as the captain of the national side.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/74436.html |title=Smit to continue as Springboks skipper |publisher=scrum.com |date=20 February 2008 |access-date=15 September 2009}}</ref> Smit led South Africa in their opening game of the [[2008 Tri Nations Series|2008 Tri Nations]], against New Zealand in Wellington, but suffered a groin injury when he was lifted and dumped by New Zealand lock [[Brad Thorn]] after the whistle had blown: Thorn received a one-match suspension<ref>{{cite news |url         = http://news.smh.com.au/sport/thorn-banned-for-one-week-for-bad-tackle-20080706-32gy.html |title       = Thorn banned for one week for bad tackle |newspaper   = The Sydney Morning Herald |date        = 6 July 2008 |access-date  = 15 September 2009 |url-status     = dead |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080803021354/http://news.smh.com.au/sport/thorn-banned-for-one-week-for-bad-tackle-20080706-32gy.html |archive-date = 3 August 2008}}</ref> but Smit missed the rest of the tournament, being replaced as captain by veteran Springbok lock, [[Victor Matfield]].

In 2009, Smit led South Africa to a series victory against the visiting [[2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa|British & Irish Lions]], and followed this by leading his team to success in the [[2009 Tri Nations Series|2009 Tri Nations]], in which South Africa won five of their six matches, including a clean sweep of three wins against New Zealand.

In the first test against New Zealand, Smit equalled the record of 59 Tests as captain held by Australia's [[George Gregan]] and England's [[Will Carling]]. The following week, he became the most-capped captain in international rugby history.<ref name="Captains Scrum.com">{{cite web |url=http://stats.scrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?captain=1;class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;template=results;type=player |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201213716/http://stats.scrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?captain=1;class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;template=results;type=player |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 February 2013 |title=Statsguru / Test matches / Player records (filter: as captain) |website=Scrum.com |access-date=28 October 2009 }}</ref>

As of September 2009, Smit is one of South Africa's most successful [[South African rugby union captains|captains]] ever, having led the Springboks to victory in 46 of the 64 games that he captained, a win percentage of 72%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/13432.html?class=1;template=results;type=player |title = Rugby Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables – ESPN}}</ref> He has won more tests as captain than any other Springbok has played as captain.<ref name="Captains Scrum.com"/>
On 23 August 2010, he played his 100th Test – only the 15th player ever, and second South African to reach that milestone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/TriNations/Springbok-milestone-watch-20100824|title=Springbok milestone watch}}</ref>

After his Springbok retirement his record as captain for the most international games was broken, by Ireland's [[Brian O'Driscoll]] in 2012 and New Zealand's [[Richie McCaw]] in 2013.

=== International tries ===
<ref>{{Cite web|title=John William Smit|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/13432.html|access-date=2022-01-10|publisher=ESPN scrum}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%"
!Try
!Opposing team
!Location
!Venue
!Competition
!Date
!Result
!Score
|-
|1
|{{ru|ITA}}
|[[Genoa]], [[Italy]]
|[[Stadio Marassi]]
|[[2001 end-of-year rugby internationals]]
|17 November 2001
|Win
|26 – '''54'''
|-
|2
|{{ru|WAL}}
|[[Pretoria]], [[South Africa]]
|[[Loftus Versfeld|Loftus Versfeld Stadium]]
|[[2004 June rugby union tests]]
|26 June 2004
|Win
|'''53''' – 18
|-
|3
|{{ru|SAM}}
|[[Johannesburg]], [[South Africa]]
|[[Ellis Park Stadium|Ellis Park]]
|[[2007 June rugby union tests]]
|9 June 2007
|Win
|'''35''' – 8
|-
|4
|{{ru|FIJ}}
|[[Marseille]], [[France]]
|[[Stade Vélodrome]]
|[[2007 Rugby World Cup]]
|7 October 2007
|Win
|'''37''' – 20
|-
|5
|{{flag|British and Irish Lions}}
|[[Durban]], [[South Africa]]
|[[Kings Park Stadium|ABSA Stadium]]
|[[2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa]]
|20 June 2009
|Win
|'''26''' – 21
|-
|6
|{{ru|FRA}}
|[[Toulouse]], [[France]]
|[[Stadium Municipal]]
|[[2009 end-of-year rugby union internationals]]
|13 November 2009
|Loss
|20 – '''13'''
|-
|7
|{{ru|AUS}}
|[[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
|[[Stadium Australia|ANZ Stadium]]
|[[2011 Tri Nations Series]]
|23 July 2011
|Loss
|39 – '''20'''
|-
|8
|{{ru|NZL}}
|[[Wellington]], [[New Zealand]]
|[[Westpac Stadium]]
|[[2011 Tri Nations Series]]
|30 July 2011
|Loss
|40 – '''7'''
|-
|}

== Clermont ==
During the run-up to the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]], he was linked with the [[Top 14|French club]] [[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Cain |title=Player exodus threatens world order |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article1719922.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110604114947/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article1719922.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2011 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=29 April 2007 |access-date=30 April 2007 | location=London}}</ref> He eventually signed a two-year deal with Clermont, effective after the World Cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,,2-9-838_2158483,00.html |title=Matfield not lost to SA rugby |publisher=News24.com |date=3 August 2007 |access-date=20 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811111237/http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,,2-9-838_2158483,00.html |archive-date=11 August 2007 }}</ref> Despite his move to France, the [[South African Rugby Union]] announced on 20 February 2008 that he would retain his Boks captaincy. {{Citation needed|date=July 2008}}. After just one year with Clermont, Smit rejoined the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} and the Super 14 side [[Sharks (Super rugby franchise)|Sharks]].

== 2009 British & Irish Lions tour ==
Smit captained South Africa in their 2–1 series win over the [[2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa|British & Irish Lions]].

==South Africa Honours as Captain==
'''[[Rugby World Cup]]'''
*Champions: [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007]]

'''[[Tri Nations (rugby union)|Tri Nations]]'''
*Winners: [[2004 Tri Nations Series|2004]], [[2009 Tri Nations Series|2009]]
*Runners-up: [[2005 Tri Nations Series|2005]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Result !! Opposing Team
|-
| 2004 || 2–0 || {{ru|Ireland}}
|-
| 2005 || 1–0 || {{ru|France}}
|-
| 2006 || 2–0 || {{ru|Scotland}}
|-
| 2007 || 2–0 || {{ru|England}}
|-
| 2008 || 2–0 || {{ru|Wales}}
|-
| 2009 || [[2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa|2–1]] || {{noflag|[[British & Irish Lions]]}} 
|-
| 2010 || 2–0 || {{ru|Italy}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{World Rugby Hall of Fame|704824}}
* {{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=18977 | name=John Smit | date=10 March 2016}}{{dead link|date=August 2021}}
* {{Twitter}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111005114820/http://www.elan.co.za/blog.php?blog=John%20Smit John Smit's Blog]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071006084018/http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?Id=13913&des=content Sharks Rugby profile]
* [http://www.genslin.us/bokke/PlayerData.aspx?PlayerID=628 Springbok Hall of Fame]

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports|ruc}}
{{succession box |title=[[2007 Rugby World Cup|IRB World Cup]]<br>winning captain|before=[[Martin Johnson (rugby union)|Martin Johnson]]<br>[[England national rugby union team|(England)]]|after=[[Richie McCaw]]<br/>[[New Zealand national rugby union team|(New Zealand)]] |years=[[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Bobby Skinstad]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Springbok captains|Springbok Captain]]|years=2003–11}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Victor Matfield]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Squads
|list1 = 
{{South Africa Squad 2011 Rugby World Cup}}
{{South Africa Squad 2007 World Cup}}
{{South Africa Squad 2003 World Cup}}
}}

{{Barbarian RFC Captains in Internationals}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smit, John}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of Pretoria Boys High School]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Polokwane]]
[[Category:Rugby union hookers]]
[[Category:Rugby union props]]
[[Category:Afrikaner people]]
[[Category:South African people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:Saracens F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sharks (rugby union) players]]
[[Category:South African rugby union players]]
[[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]]
[[Category:South Africa national rugby union team captains]]
[[Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players]]
[[Category:Barbarian F.C. players]]
[[Category:ASM Clermont Auvergne players]]
[[Category:World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Limpopo]]
[[Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:2011 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France]]
[[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]