Ben Smith’s Super Rugby career may be over
All Blacks great Ben Smith may have played his last game of Super Rugby after seriously injuring his hamstring while on duty for the Highlanders.
Super Rugby
Don't miss out on the headlines from Super Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News.
All Blacks great Ben Smith may have played his last game of Super Rugby after seriously injuring his hamstring while on duty for the Highlanders.
Co-captain Smith will be sidelined for six to eight weeks, almost certainly ruling the him out for the remainder of the regular season.
The 32-year-old fullback has signed with French club Pau next year, meaning he won’t play for the Highlanders again unless they qualify for the finals and even then his fitness status could be in doubt.
Live stream the 2019 Vodafone Super Rugby on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime in HD and ad-break free during play. Get your 14 day free trial >
With Highlanders sixth on a congested table with six rounds remaining, last Saturday’s 31-31 home draw with the Chiefs may have marked the end of an 11-season Super Rugby career.
Smith has been a consistently impressive force for the southern franchise.
He was New Zealand’s Super Rugby player of the year in 2013 and helped steer the Highlanders to their only title two years later.
The classy Smith should recover in time to add to his 76 caps when the All Blacks’ Test schedule begins in late July.
NEW PODCAST! Rod Kafer joins the crew to discuss the end of his stint working for Rugby Australia and the Israel Folau code of conduct hearing
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by CLICKING HERE
He will be a vital figure in their campaign to defend the Rugby World Cup given New Zealand’s second-ranked fullback Damian McKenzie will miss the tournament in Japan with a knee injury.
Smith’s woes continue a crippling injury run for the Highlanders, although assistant coach Glenn Delaney said All Blacks Liam Squire and Waisake Naholo could both return for Saturday’s game against the Jaguares following lengthy absences.
Flanker Squire hasn’t played this year because of hip and knee problems.
MORE RUGBY NEWS
FOLAU’S UNLIKELIEST ALLY: Former All Black clips Rugby Australia ‘mistake’
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED: The moment that could haunt the Waratahs
‘OVER THE EDGE’: Emotional Roberts delivers confronting message to Folau
Originally published as Ben Smith’s Super Rugby career may be over
Suaalii’s new position revealed ahead of Super Rugby opener
After missing NSW’s final trial match against the Brumbies a fortnight ago, Super Rugby’s highest-profile recruit has been given a positional switch for his Waratahs debut.
Axed star opens up on controversial Wallabies snubbing
Langi Gleeson was invited to be part of the Wallabies training camp – as he pushed towards a call-up against the British and Irish Lions. And then it was brutally snatched away from him.