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    Conrad Smith to retire

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    • Stargazer
      Stargazer last edited by

      This man deserves his own thread.

      All Blacks legend Conrad Smith to hang up his boots at the end of the season

      ALL BLACKS LEGEND Conrad Smith will end his playing days at the end of the season, as he considers a move into coaching and further work with International Rugby Players.
      
      The 36-year-old has been with Top 14 club Pau since 2015 but is ready to end his professional playing career at the end of this campaign.
      
      Smith is one of the All Blacks’ greatest players ever, having earned 94 caps in their midfield and helped them to World Cup successes in 2011 and 2015, as well as the 2005 Test series victory against the Lions.
      
      The former Hurricanes centre worked with the New Zealand Rugby Players Association during his time as an All Black and has been involved with International Rugby Players – who announced a move to Dublin today – in more recent times.
      
      A qualified lawyer, Smith could move into a bigger role with International Rugby Players upon retirement, but his deeply intelligent rugby brain would also be suited to coaching and it’s something he is keen to try out.
      
      “I’m going to finish up this year and I think I will spend a year or two either doing a little bit of work with International Rugby Players, but also within rugby itself and the coaching set-up and see what I like,” Smith told The42 in Dublin today.
      
      “While I was playing, it was cool that I could do it [working with the players' associations] and it was something a little bit different outside of rucks and the tactics of the game.
      
      “It’s certainly something that has interested me for a while. It stems from the fact that I just love rugby.”
      
      Smith remains a key player with Pau for now and has started 17 games for the club in the Top 14 this season, continuing to show his class in the 13 shirt outside Kiwi out-half Colin Slade.
      
      This will be his last season on the pitch, however, and his retirement is sure to be met with major tributes from New Zealand, as well as the rest of the rugby world.
      
      Smith has always been a classy presence on the pitch for Wellington, the Hurricanes, New Zealand and Pau, with his defensive intelligence matched by creative and incisive attacking play.
      
      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • mariner4life
        mariner4life last edited by

        Conrad Smith retired in late October 2015

        Stargazer No Quarter 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 15
        • Stargazer
          Stargazer @mariner4life last edited by Stargazer

          @mariner4life
          alt text

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • nzzp
            nzzp last edited by nzzp

            Loved him as a player. A great foil for Nonu, and a wonderful career proving skinny white guys can still thrive at the top level. Intelligent, thoughtful, funny, a top bloke and incidentally played some sensational footy.

            Edit: I don' tthink this will be the last we'll see of him

            Damo MN5 Bones 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 11
            • Damo
              Damo @nzzp last edited by

              @nzzp said in Conrad Smith to retire:

              Loved him as a player. A great foil for Nonu, and a wonderful career proving skinny white guys can still thrive at the top level. Intelligent, thoughtful, funny, a top bloke and incidentally played some sensational footy.

              Edit: I don' tthink this will be the last we'll see of him

              Conrad for PM.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • MN5
                MN5 @nzzp last edited by

                @nzzp said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                Loved him as a player. A great foil for Nonu, and a wonderful career proving skinny white guys can still thrive at the top level. Intelligent, thoughtful, funny, a top bloke and incidentally played some sensational footy.

                Edit: I don' tthink this will be the last we'll see of him

                I remember reading one of those bullshit player profile things on the canes website and he said his ambition was to have a beer in every pub in NZ. That's brilliant, judging by some of his efforts on Courtney Place that I saw he is giving it a good nudge.

                I think @Nepia said it best when describing about what made him so good in that it was really hard ie when sitting down with the Grandkids. He was just good at all he did.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • ShadowTrooper
                  ShadowTrooper last edited by

                  Can't say I'm surprised. Only went overseas to make some $$$ security for his family.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • Paekakboyz
                    Paekakboyz last edited by

                    I think he would have been fine money wise. Vague recollection that the family had hoped to live abroad and if you can add in a decent wage why not!

                    taniwharugby 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • taniwharugby
                      taniwharugby @Paekakboyz last edited by

                      @paekakboyz is he still able to practice Law, pretty sure they get paid well.

                      Awesome player, smarts, skills, in a time when players were getting bigger, stronger and faster, he was smarter and fitter!

                      I hope whatever he does post rugby, it is back in NZ, especially if he intends being involved in the sport going forward.

                      Legend.

                      canefan nzzp 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • canefan
                        canefan @taniwharugby last edited by

                        @taniwharugby said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                        @paekakboyz is he still able to practice Law, pretty sure they get paid well.

                        Awesome player, smarts, skills, in a time when players were getting bigger, stronger and faster, he was smarter and fitter!

                        I hope whatever he does post rugby, it is back in NZ, especially if he intends being involved in the sport going forward.

                        Legend.

                        He'd sail into a law firm, on the fast track, there is prestige in having an AB great as partner

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • nzzp
                          nzzp @taniwharugby last edited by

                          @taniwharugby said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                          @paekakboyz is he still able to practice Law, pretty sure they get paid well.

                          starting salary of lawyers: $45-50k per year.
                          https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news-and-communications/news/new-zealand-law-society-and-hays-legal-salary-guide-released

                          Contract at Pau: $66k per MONTH.

                          May 19, 2017  /  Sport

                          New Zealanders headline list of France's highest-paid rugby players | Newshub

                          New Zealanders headline list of France's highest-paid rugby players | Newshub

                          The biggest French clubs finally blow the lid on their big money deals.

                          Fark, why not take a couple fo quiet years overseas...

                          booboo 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                          • booboo
                            booboo @nzzp last edited by booboo

                            @nzzp said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                            @taniwharugby said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                            @paekakboyz is he still able to practice Law, pretty sure they get paid well.

                            starting salary of lawyers: $45-50k per year.
                            https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news-and-communications/news/new-zealand-law-society-and-hays-legal-salary-guide-released

                            Contract at Pau: $66k per MONTH.

                            May 19, 2017  /  Sport

                            New Zealanders headline list of France's highest-paid rugby players | Newshub

                            New Zealanders headline list of France's highest-paid rugby players | Newshub

                            The biggest French clubs finally blow the lid on their big money deals.

                            Fark, why not take a couple fo quiet years overseas...

                            Think he'd start on just a leeettle more than $45k per year ...

                            Crucial MN5 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 3
                            • Crucial
                              Crucial @booboo last edited by

                              @booboo said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                              @nzzp said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                              @taniwharugby said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                              @paekakboyz is he still able to practice Law, pretty sure they get paid well.

                              starting salary of lawyers: $45-50k per year.
                              https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news-and-communications/news/new-zealand-law-society-and-hays-legal-salary-guide-released

                              Contract at Pau: $66k per MONTH.

                              May 19, 2017  /  Sport

                              New Zealanders headline list of France's highest-paid rugby players | Newshub

                              New Zealanders headline list of France's highest-paid rugby players | Newshub

                              The biggest French clubs finally blow the lid on their big money deals.

                              Fark, why not take a couple fo quiet years overseas...

                              Think he'd start on just a leeettle more than $45k per year ...

                              Nah, he needs to start on the wing and get a bit of experience before moving in

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                              • Bones
                                Bones @nzzp last edited by

                                @nzzp said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                Loved him as a player. A great foil for Nonu, and a wonderful career proving skinny white guys can still thrive at the top level. Intelligent, thoughtful, funny, a top bloke and incidentally played some sensational footy.

                                Edit: I don' tthink this will be the last we'll see of him

                                As a man who earned my nickname the hard way in prem rugby, I wish I'd been as "skinny" as him.

                                Milk 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                • Milk
                                  Milk @Bones last edited by

                                  @bones Yeah, funny how skinny white guys like him and Ben Smith are actually massive units when you meet them in real life.

                                  Bones 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • Bones
                                    Bones @Milk last edited by

                                    @milk too right, Connie had an extra 20 kegs on me.

                                    taniwharugby 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • MN5
                                      MN5 @booboo last edited by

                                      @booboo said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                      @nzzp said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                      @taniwharugby said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                      @paekakboyz is he still able to practice Law, pretty sure they get paid well.

                                      starting salary of lawyers: $45-50k per year.
                                      https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news-and-communications/news/new-zealand-law-society-and-hays-legal-salary-guide-released

                                      Contract at Pau: $66k per MONTH.

                                      May 19, 2017  /  Sport

                                      New Zealanders headline list of France's highest-paid rugby players | Newshub

                                      New Zealanders headline list of France's highest-paid rugby players | Newshub

                                      The biggest French clubs finally blow the lid on their big money deals.

                                      Fark, why not take a couple fo quiet years overseas...

                                      Think he'd start on just a leeettle more than $45k per year ...

                                      He could say he went to Harvard and then bullshit his way in from there. No one would know the difference.

                                      Would make a great TV show although the sameness of each episode might get a bit boring by season 4.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • taniwharugby
                                        taniwharugby @Bones last edited by

                                        @bones most people would have 20kgs on you!

                                        Some players do look bigger in RL, some don't, Conrad was as 'big' as I expected him to be.

                                        MN5 Bones 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • MN5
                                          MN5 @taniwharugby last edited by MN5

                                          @taniwharugby said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                          @bones most people would have 20kgs on you!

                                          Some players do look bigger in RL, some don't, Conrad was as 'big' as I expected him to be.

                                          None of them were bigger in real life than old mate Johan Ackermann. He was like a walking barn, people were getting caught up in the slipstream behind him on Lambton Quay.

                                          0_1521742477876_images-39.jpg

                                          Bones 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • Bones
                                            Bones @taniwharugby last edited by

                                            @taniwharugby maybe not so much these days

                                            alt text

                                            MN5 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                            • MN5
                                              MN5 @Bones last edited by

                                              @bones said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                              @taniwharugby maybe not so much these days

                                              alt text

                                              Good God man, What a lardass

                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                              • dogmeat
                                                dogmeat last edited by

                                                Really would have missed him in France in 07 if the RWC had gone ahead that year. My favourite player of the last decade. Top drawer player and seems a top bloke

                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
                                                • No Quarter
                                                  No Quarter @mariner4life last edited by

                                                  @mariner4life said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                                  Conrad Smith retired in late October 2015

                                                  Yup, to paraphrase @Chris-B - once you leave NZ rugby, you are dead to me.

                                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                                                  • Bones
                                                    Bones @MN5 last edited by

                                                    @mn5 are you sure that wasn't just people slipping in the jizz stream you were spraying everywhere when following him?

                                                    MN5 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                    • Rembrandt
                                                      Rembrandt last edited by

                                                      Well I was in his class at school and I can verify definitely confirm skinny guy, really surprised when I heard he made the Wellington team, not even sure he was 1st XV at school? Maybe as half back?

                                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                      • MN5
                                                        MN5 @Bones last edited by

                                                        @bones said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                                        @mn5 are you sure that wasn't just people slipping in the jizz stream you were spraying everywhere when following him?

                                                        I walked past him fatboy, I'll leave the behind fantasies to you when you're not busy regaling us with tales of your heroic prem rugby career.

                                                        Bones 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                        • Bones
                                                          Bones @MN5 last edited by

                                                          @mn5 said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                                          @bones said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                                          @mn5 are you sure that wasn't just people slipping in the jizz stream you were spraying everywhere when following him?

                                                          I walked past him fatboy, I'll leave the behind fantasies to you when you're not busy regaling us with tales of your heroic prem rugby career.

                                                          Both of those things may not be mutually exclusive.

                                                          MN5 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                          • MN5
                                                            MN5 @Bones last edited by

                                                            @bones said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                                            @mn5 said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                                            @bones said in Conrad Smith to retire:

                                                            @mn5 are you sure that wasn't just people slipping in the jizz stream you were spraying everywhere when following him?

                                                            I walked past him fatboy, I'll leave the behind fantasies to you when you're not busy regaling us with tales of your heroic prem rugby career.

                                                            Both of those things may not be mutually exclusive.

                                                            Did you move to the midfield or the forwards like other noted fatso Brendan Laney?

                                                            Bones 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                            • Bones
                                                              Bones @MN5 last edited by

                                                              @mn5 move?

                                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                              • Stargazer
                                                                Stargazer last edited by

                                                                http://www.allblacks.com/News/32204/all-blacks-podcast-with-conrad-smith

                                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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