Johnny Smith (rugby union)
| Full name | John Burns Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 25 September 1922 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kaikohe, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 3 December 1974 (aged 52) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 79 kg (174 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Kaikohe District High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Peter Smith (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position(s) | Centre | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand No. | 461 | ||
| Amateur team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| Provincial / State sides | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1946–54 | North Auckland | 41 | () |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1946–49 | New Zealand | 4 | (6) |
John Burns "Johnny" Smith (26 September 1922 – 3 December 1974) was a New Zealand rugby union player, soldier, sportsman and baker. He was an All Black captain, and despite only playing nine matches (including four tests) is recognised as a great. His 26 appearances for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force rugby team (known as the Kiwis), which toured the UK in 1946–47, earned him high praise. He also played for the New Zealand Māori, being of Ngāpuhi descent.
Smith only played nine matches for the All Blacks, including four tests. His entire All Black career consists of series in or against Australia in 1946, 1947, and 1949. There were no All Black tests in 1948, and the only other opponent New Zealand faced during Smith's time in the All Blacks was South Africa, in a series from which Māori players were excluded.
Smith played the Australians twice during this tour—first as captain of a victorious North Auckland side (32–19), then as a member of the first All Black side since 1938. At Carisbrook in Dunedin, Smith scored a try in a 31–8 test victory. He did not play in the second test two weeks later.
This nine-match tour was Smith's only trip away with the All Blacks. He made another single test appearance in a two-match test series.
The All Blacks toured apartheid South Africa in 1949 but Smith, being Māori, was excluded from the squad. His official All Black profile now attributes his non-selection to "the unforgivable weakness shown by New Zealand rugby in meeting South Africa's apartheid conditions". While that team was away, Australia toured New Zealand, leading to the unusual situation of simultaneous All Black series in different countries. "The New Zealand Rugby Union ... decided that the 1949 matches against Australia would have full test status, even though the country's top 30 players were in South Africa. One of the reasons for the decision was to not deprive test caps to three of the All Blacks, Johnny Smith, Ben Couch and Vince Bevan who were not considered for the South African tour because they were Maori. All three would surely have otherwise gone to South Africa."
Smith captained the All Black sides that faced Australia. Both tests were lost (including one on 3 September—the same day that the Springboks beat New Zealand in Durban). They were the last All Black matches that Smith played. He was selected to play Australia again in 1952, but withdrew through injury.
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