George Smith (rugby union)

George Smith

At a training session of Stade Français, 2012
Full name	George Smith
Date of birth	(1980-07-14) 14 July 1980 (age 36)
Place of birth	Manly, Sydney, Australia
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	103 kg (16 st 3 lb)
School	Cromer High School
Notable relative(s)	Tyrone Smith (brother)
Spouse	Louise
Children	Wyatt, Ryker, Soleil
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Flanker, Number Eight
Professional / senior clubs Years Club / team Apps (points) 2010–2011 2011−2014 2012 2014−2015 2015−2016 2016− Toulon Suntory Sungoliath Stade Français Lyon Wasps Suntory Sungoliath 30 34 8 21 26 12 (5) (55) (5) (25) (5) (10) Correct as of 15 January 2017
Super Rugby Years Club / team Apps (points) 2000–2010, 2013 2017– Brumbies Reds 142 1 (80) (0) Correct as of 24 February 2017
National team(s) Years Club / team Apps (points) 2000–2009, 2013 Australia 111 0(45) Correct as of 8 July 2013

George Smith AM (born 14 July 1980) is an Australian rugby union player. He is a flanker for Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League, though he is more known for his 12 years (2000–10,13) at the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby, earning 142 caps.

He made his Test debut in 2000 against France in Paris and earning 111 caps for Australia, 110 before retiring from international rugby on 5 February 2010 and one final cap against the British and Irish Lions on 6 July 2013. He is the second most capped Wallaby forward behind Nathan Sharpe, and is the second most capped flanker in rugby union behind Richie McCaw. He holds the world record as the youngest player to have played 100 test matches at 29 years and 4 days.

Smith was born in Manly, Sydney. He began playing rugby with the Manly Roos/Warringah Roos, before moving on to play the majority of his junior career with the Manly Vikings, and Tupou College in Tonga, playing a year above his age group in the Sydney junior rugby competition. Once that team had reached its age limit (18 years old) and moved on to the colts competition, Smith remained in the Sydney junior rugby competition, this time lining up in his correct age group for the Seaforth-Balgowlah Raiders. He then progressed to playing in the Manly 1st grade Colts side who also won a premiership in 1999. It was during that season that Smith made his first grade debut at Nepean Rugby Park against The Penrith Emus. During his junior career he was selected for many representative teams, including Manly, Sydney, Northern Zone, NSW, and Australian Under 16s. Smith also had a successful school career, first at Balgowlah Boys High School, then at Cromer High School, where, along with Tongan international John Payne, he won the Australian Schools Championship. He played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1998.