Wikipedia

Ryan Smith (rugby union, born 1996)

Ryan Smith (born 30 September 1996) is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby. His playing position is lock.

Ryan Smith
Birth nameRyan Smith
Date of birth (1996-09-30) 30 September 1996 (age 27)
Place of birthToowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Height1.99 m (6 ft 6+1⁄2 in)
Weight117 kg (18 st 6 lb)
SchoolSt Patrick's College, Shorncliffe
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019 Brisbane City 6 (0)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020– Queensland Reds 52 (35)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022– Australia A 4 (0)

Early life edit

Smith was born in Toowoomba. He moved to Caboolture, where he spent most of his early childhood before relocating to Brighton for his schooling years.

Smith started playing rugby union in 2000 for his junior club, the Caboolture Snakes.[1] He played his senior club rugby for Brothers. In his final year at St. Patrick’s, Smith represented the College's 2013 1st XV rugby team. After school, Smith began playing colts rugby and progressed into the Brothers grades program in 2015. He made his Queensland Premier Rugby debut with the club in 2017. [2]

Club career edit

Having trained with the Brumbies for a short time, Smith came into the spotlight after impressing with Brisbane City in the 2019 National Rugby Championship.[3]

The lock first featured for the Reds in their 28–19 preseason trial victory over the Waratahs in Dalby on 24 January 2020,[4] before getting a call-up to the Reds' Super Rugby side in May 2020.[5]

Smith made his Super Rugby debut in Round 1 on 19 February 2021, defeating the Waratahs 41–7 at Suncorp Stadium. He entered the match as a 68th minute substitute wearing jersey #19 and became Queensland Reds player #1357.[6] Smith made his Super Rugby starting debut at lock in Round 6 against the Waratahs on 27 March 2021.[7]

On 8 May 2021, the Reds ended their ten-year championship drought and claimed the 2021 Super Rugby AU title.[8] Smith started at lock[9] in the come-from-behind, 19–16 grand final victory over the Brumbies. At Queensland’s end of season awards lunch held at Sirromet winery, Mount Cotton on 18 July 2021, Smith was named Rookie of the Year.[10]

Smith scored his maiden Super Rugby try on 25 February 2022, as Queensland claimed the Bob Templeton Cup in a rain-soaked match against the Waratahs. The try proved to be the Round 2 match-winner, as the Reds held on to win 20–16, at Leichhardt Oval.[11]

On 12 April 2024, Smith won his 50th cap for the Reds in a 17–14 loss to Moana Pasifika at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei.[12] Smith earned his 50th Super Rugby cap in his next appearance on 19 April with a dominant 31–0 win against the Highlanders. Smith scored his first try of the 2024 season only 27 minutes into the milestone match.[13][14]

International career edit

In the opening round of the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup on 2 July, Smith made his Australia A debut against Samoa. He received his first international yellow card in the 19th minute of the match, which Australia A went on to lose 31–26 at ANZ Stadium in Suva, Fiji.[15] Smith’s first Australia A win came in his next match, a 32–18 victory over Fiji on 9 July at Churchill Park.[16]

Smith represented Australia A in the Asahi Super Dry Japan Rugby Challenge Series 2022: a three match series against the Japan XV.[17] He came off the bench for the series opener on 1 October at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium and started in the third and final match on 14 October at Yodoko Sakura Stadium.[18] Australia A won the series 2–1.[19]

Smith earned his first Wallabies call-up after coach Eddie Jones made seven changes to a 33-man training squad due to injuries.[20] Fellow Reds team-mate Matt Faessler also received his first Wallabies call-up, joining Smith for the three-day camp starting on 17 April 2023 at Sanctuary Cove.[21]

Reference list edit

  1. ^ Tucker, Jim (15 March 2023). "Kids Round is a theme every Reds player can relate to". reds.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Ryan Smith". www.playbook.coach. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Ryan Smith". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  4. ^ Greenwood, Emma (24 January 2020). "Reds, Waratahs sweating on player availability ahead of Super Rugby openers". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  5. ^ Newman, Beth (25 May 2020). "The Replacements: Get to know the new Reds' faces". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  6. ^ Reds Media Unit (18 July 2021). "Taniela Tupou bags back-to-back Pilecki Medals". reds.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  7. ^ Reds Media Unit (24 March 2021). "St.George Queensland Reds announce Round 6 team against Waratahs". reds.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  8. ^ Reds Media Unit (9 May 2021). "St.George Queensland Reds crowned 2021 Super Rugby AU champions with a thrilling 19-16 win over Brumbies". reds.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  9. ^ Reds Media Unit (5 May 2021). "St.George Queensland Reds announce Grand Final team against Brumbies". reds.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  10. ^ Reds Media Unit (18 July 2021). "Taniela Tupou bags back-to-back Pilecki Medals". reds.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  11. ^ Reds Media Unit (25 February 2022). "Reds hold on to win interstate thriller in Sydney". reds.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  12. ^ Reds Media Unit (13 April 2024). "Reds fall in final 75 seconds In Whangarei to Moana Pasifika". reds.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  14. ^ Wright, Nick (19 April 2024). "Test returns beckon amid injury drama: Four things learnt from Reds' triumph". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Pacific Nations Cup - Match report Australia A vs Samoa, le 02/07/2022". all.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Pacific Nations Cup - Match report Fiji vs Australia A, le 09/07/2022". all.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  17. ^ Australia, Rugby (21 September 2022). "Wallabies headline Australia A squad for Japan Tour". australia.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  18. ^ Australia, Rugby (11 October 2022). "Tuttle to skipper Australia A in final Japan XV match". australia.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Japan XV bests Australia A in 15-try thriller". www.rugbypass.com. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  20. ^ Australia, Rugby (16 April 2023). "Wallabies make forced changes to April Camp squad". wallabies.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  21. ^ Church, Michael (16 April 2023). "Injuries force Jones to make seven changes to Wallabies squad". Reuters. Retrieved 8 May 2024.

External links edit


 

This biographical article relating to Australian rugby union is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ryan_Smith_(rugby_union,_born_1996)&oldid=1222925428"