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Jean Smith (rugby union)

Jean Smith (born 1 April 2003) is an Italian born South African rugby union player, who plays for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship.

Career

Born in Treviso, Italy as his father, Franco Smith,[1] was playing for Benetton Treviso in the Super 10 at the time. Smith began playing his rugby for the Benetton youth sides starting at the age of 5, before he moved back to South Africa in 2014.[2] Moving to Grey College in Bloemfontein.[3] His first international call up came in 2019 playing for South Africa's under-16 team.[4]

After leaving school he joined Durban based URC side the Sharks, playing in the SA Rugby under-21 Cup before being selected to join the South Africa under-20 side for the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship, making 4 starts scoring 36 points in the tournament with South Africa finishing 3rd.[5][6]

In the 2024-25 EPCR Challenge Cup, Smith made his senior debut for the Sharks coming off the bench to score 2 conversions in a 34-21 round of 16 loss against Lyon OU.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Junior Bok flyhalf reflects on U20 Championship jitters". boksquad.co.za. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  2. ^ "'Your body's sore all the time having small gaps between games'". www.rugbypass.com. 9 July 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  3. ^ neliodesa. "Jean Smith". Grey College 1st XV Rugby Stats & School Information. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Getting to know: Junior Springboks fly-half Jean Smith". www.rugbypass.com. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Jean SMITH profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Jean SMITH - Player statistics - It's rugby". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  7. ^ Burnard, Lloyd. "Sharks fire blank in France to limp out of Challenge Cup". Sport. Retrieved 13 April 2025.