Wayne Smith (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Wayne Ross Smith is a former rugby union
footballer, and currently a rugby union coach. He is currently the backs coach for New Zealand's national rugby union team the All Blacks
. He played provincial rugby for Canterbury
and became an All Black in 1980. He played first five-eighth, gaining 35 caps for the All Blacks, 17 of those Tests. His first major coaching position was for the Crusaders in the Super 12 in 1997. He coached them to two titles in 1998 and 1999 before being appointed All Blacks coach after the 1999 Rugby World Cup
. After losing his position as head coach of the All Blacks in late 2001 he went to coach the Northampton Saints
in England
. He coached there until being appointed backs coach in early 2004 by current All Blacks coach Graham Henry
. It was rumoured that he was in discussions to take over as Ospreys head coach on 1 January 2009, but nothing happened.
commented that the best piece of coaching advice he'd received came from Smith:
"I was going through a bad patch and he told me to go out and trust my instincts and be decisive – you need to trust what you do is going to be the right thing and if you do it decisively you'll make good of it even if it's the wrong option because you'll do it with purpose. That's the best piece of advice I've been given."
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer, and currently a rugby union coach. He is currently the backs coach for New Zealand's national rugby union team the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
. He played provincial rugby for Canterbury
Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the Canterbury region, in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand...
and became an All Black in 1980. He played first five-eighth, gaining 35 caps for the All Blacks, 17 of those Tests. His first major coaching position was for the Crusaders in the Super 12 in 1997. He coached them to two titles in 1998 and 1999 before being appointed All Blacks coach after the 1999 Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
. After losing his position as head coach of the All Blacks in late 2001 he went to coach the Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He coached there until being appointed backs coach in early 2004 by current All Blacks coach Graham Henry
Graham Henry
Graham Henry is a New Zealand Rugby Union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. He played rugby union for Canterbury and cricket for Otago in the Plunket Shield. Henry was heavily criticized following the All Blacks quarterfinal exit at the 2007 Rugby World...
. It was rumoured that he was in discussions to take over as Ospreys head coach on 1 January 2009, but nothing happened.
Coaching
The former All Blacks scrum half Justin MarshallJustin Marshall
Justin Warren Marshall, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He was born in Mataura and educated in Gore before settling in Christchurch. Marshall played 81 games for the New Zealand All Blacks between 1995 and 2005...
commented that the best piece of coaching advice he'd received came from Smith:
"I was going through a bad patch and he told me to go out and trust my instincts and be decisive – you need to trust what you do is going to be the right thing and if you do it decisively you'll make good of it even if it's the wrong option because you'll do it with purpose. That's the best piece of advice I've been given."