Aaron Smith

Scrum half with 124 All Blacks caps and a 2015 Rugby World Cup winner.

New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General · via Wikipedia: Aaron Smith (rugby union) · CC BY 4.0

Aaron Smith is a New Zealand scrum half who won 124 caps for the All Blacks, making him the second most-capped back in the team's history. Born on 21 November 1988, he came through Manawatu and the Highlanders, was first picked for New Zealand in 2012, and started every knockout match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup that New Zealand won. His final test was the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa, after which he moved to Toyota Verblitz in Japan.

Quick Facts

Fullname: Aaron Luke Smith
Born: 21 November 1988
Birthplace: Palmerston North, New Zealand
Height: 171 cm / 5 ft 7 in
Weight: 82 kg / 181 lb
School: Feilding High School
Position: Half-back
Currentclub: Toyota Verblitz

Facts from the source article.

Background

Smith debuted for Manawatu at 19 in 2008 and by 2009 had made the half-back jersey his own, starting all 13 games. He joined the Highlanders for 2011 under Jamie Joseph and played for New Zealand Māori in their 2010 Centenary Series. His All Blacks debut came on 9 June 2012 against Ireland, and within a season he was the first-choice halfback. He led the haka from 2016, first against Wales at Eden Park, and played his 50th test later that year. On 17 November 2018 he passed Justin Marshall as the most-capped scrum half in New Zealand history. On 7 August 2021 at Eden Park, against the Wallabies, he became the tenth All Black to reach 100 tests and the first of Māori descent to do so.