Ben Smith (rugby union)

Provincial Rugby

Born in Dunedin and educated at King's High School, Smith progressed through the junior ranks in the city at his beloved Green Island Rugby Club (The Grizzlies) before making his Air New Zealand Cup debut in 2008. He was one of the break-out stars of the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup, scoring six tries for Otago en route earning a year-end selection for the New Zealand national team (All Blacks). In the 2010 ITM Cup, however, he struggled to make the same impact as Otago endured a nightmare season and bottom-of-the-table finish, while Smith missed several matches while at the Commonwealth Games in India.

Super Rugby

Smith was selected to the Highlanders squad for the 2009 Super 14 season. In 2010, Smith started every Highlander game, and scored two tries for the season. He played mainly on the wing, and earned one start at fullback while Israel Dagg was out injured.

Shifted back to his preferred position of fullback for the 2011 Super Rugby season, earned praise from coach Jamie Joseph and consideration for another All Blacks callup. He started every Highlander game for the third season running and added another two tries to his career total. In 2013 he continued as Highlanders fullback and was selected for the All Blacks to play on the wing against France. On 5 December 2013, Smith won the Super Rugby Player of the Year award for the 2013 Super Rugby season.

In May 2015 Smith played his 100th Super Rugby game against the Western Force.

In 2017, Smith played his 127th game for the Highlanders in their Round 15 22-25 loss to the Crusaders, equalling Anton Oliver's record for the most capped Highlander ever. Unfortunately, Smith was taken off the field early in the second half for a concussion test- which was failed, after tripping over All Blacks team mate Ryan Crotty.

International

In 2009 Smith was included in the 33-member All Blacks squad for the 2009 Autumn Internationals, ahead of veteran All Black winger Joe Rokocoko. Smith made his test debut for the All Blacks against Italy on 14 November 2009 at the San Siro, Milan, which the All Blacks won 20–6. He scored his first All Blacks try against the UK Barbarians on the last game of the tour which the Barbarians ran out winners 25–18 at Twickenham, London, on 5 December 2009.

Smith didn't figure into All Black squads in 2010, but was selected for the rugby sevens squad which competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, where he helped New Zealand to a gold medal finish.

In 2012 Smith got recalled for the All Blacks.

In June 2013, he played & featured in all 3 games against France in the French NZ Tour Series, on the right wing. In the first game of the 3 Test Series at Auckland's Eden Park, he set up a try to Aaron Smith (in the 32nd minute) and was awarded man-of-the-match award. In the second game on 15 June at Christchurch's Rugby League Park, he scored a try in the 48th minute of the game. The final game of 3 Test Series, he again scored another in the 35th minute at New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium.

In August 2013, during the 2013 Rugby Championship, Smith scored 3 tries in the All Blacks 47–29 win against the Wallabies at Sydney's ANZ Stadium. The following week when the All Blacks faced the Wallabies at Wellington's Westpac Stadium, he scored 2 tries to help New Zealand win 27–16 and to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

In September 2013, Smith scored 2 tries to help the All Blacks win 33–15 against Argentina in La Plata.

In October 2013 following the close of the Rugby Championships, Smith was awarded with the record for the most tries in a Rugby Championship/Tri Nations series, scoring 8 tries in 6 matches.

In 2014, Smith played many tests at fullback, including the series against England due to the injury of regular fullback Israel Dagg. Dagg'a struggles with injury saw Smith take the 15 jersey for himself during the year.

On 30 August 2015, he was named as one of the 31 members of the New Zealand Rugby World Cup team.

Smith played in all seven of New Zealand's games at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, starting as fullback in all but one match (against Namibia, where he was substituted on for Colin Slade). He scored two tries, one against Namibia in their second pool match, and one against Tonga in their final pool game. He was awarded man of the match for his efforts in the semi-final against South Africa. In the final against Australia, he was yellow carded for a tip tackle, becoming the first player to do so in a Rugby World Cup Final. He returned to the pitch to help the All Blacks to a 34–17 victory, as they became the first team ever to take back-to-back titles, as well as the first to win three Rugby World Cups.

In 2016, after the international or complete retirements of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter (as well as Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu), Smith was named as the vice-captain of the All Blacks, a role previously held by Conrad Smith. Smith was shifted to right wing for the June series against Wales to accommodate for Israel Dagg who had returned from injury. Smith was moved back for fullback for the 2016 Rugby Championship with Dagg as the right wing, the two players finishing as highest try scorers in the competition- having scored 5 tries across the 6 matches of the competition each.

During the 2016 game vs Ireland in Dublin, Ben Smith also provided cover at halfback while Aaron Smith was sin binned in the first half of the match. Smith was injured with a broken finger towards the end of the match, ending his international year. Smith scored 8 tries throughout 2016, third-to-highest for the All Blacks behind new fly-half Beauden Barrett and Israel Dagg (highest two international scorers for the year).

Personal life

Smith married Katie Menzies in 2015. Their daughter was born that year and their second child, son Walter was born on 9 March 2017 while Smith was out injured with concussion.