John Smith Biography

John Smit, former Springbok captain who played hooker and prop for the Springboks in 111 Tests, beat the British & Irish Lions in 2009 and won the Rugby World Cup in 2007.

He will probably go down as one of the most decorated leaders in the history of the game.

The versatile front-row forward led the Springboks in 83 of his 111 Tests. Between 2004 and 2009, the Boks won the World Cup, two Tri-Nations (now The Rugby Championship) titles and a series against the British & Irish Lions. Furthermore, they were named the IRB (now World Rugby) Team of the Year in 2004 and 2009.

John Smit was born on 3 April 1978 in Pietersburg. He attended Fields College in Rustenburg 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. 

After school he enrolled at the University of Natal and two years later landed a contract with the Durban-based Sharks where he played Currie Cup and Super Rugby.

John Smit made his debut for South Africa on 10 June 2000 at the age of 22 against Canada. 

During the run-up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup, John Smit was linked with the French club Clermont. He eventually signed a two-year deal with Clermont, effective after the World Cup. Despite his move to France, SA Rugby announced that he would retain his Bok captaincy. After just one year with Clermont, Smit rejoined the Sharks.

His leadership qualities came to the fore in the 2007 Rugby World Cup with his calm under pressure and inspirational captaincy seeing South Africa win the William Webb Ellis Trophy for the second time. 

John Smit also led South Africa in the 2008 Tri-Nations against Australia and New Zealand. In the first game against New Zealand in Wellington, he was spear tackled by New Zealand lock Brad Thorn who was suspended for one game. He missed the rest of the 2008 Tri-Nations because of a groin injury and veteran Springbok lock, Victor Matfield, led the side.

World Rugby saluted John Smit on his retirement from the game in 2011 following the World Cup as the most-capped South African player ever, with his 111 appearances. But he would stay in rugby as he took up the post of CEO at the Sharks as of 1 July 2013. 

He would remain in this position until his resignation in May 2016 upon which he took up the position of CEO at SSG Holdings.