All Blacks legend takes up high-performance position at New Zealand Rugby
Ex-All Blacks centre Conrad Smith has been appointed as New Zealand Rugby's head of men’s high performance.
Former All Blacks centre and two-time Rugby World Cup winner Conrad Smith has been appointed as New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) head of men’s high performance.
Smith played in 94 Tests and represented the All Blacks when they were crowned World Cup champions in New Zealand 2011 and England in 2015 before retiring from international rugby after their triumphant campaign at the latter tournament.
He also made 126 appearances for the Hurricanes between 2004 and 2015 before joining Top 14 outfit Pau who he represented in 52 matches until he retired from the game in 2018.
The 44-year-old is a qualified lawyer who has worked for the International Rugby Players’ Association as their chief of rugby operations since 2018.
NZR issued a statement on Wednesday morning which said Smith’s appointment reinforces the governing body’s commitment to a world-leading high-performance system that delivers sustained success through the development of exceptional players, coaches, match officials and support staff.
Set to take up his position in September
He will take up his new position in early September and report to NZR director of high performance Don Tricker.
Smith will lead the delivery of the men’s high-performance programme across the game in New Zealand and his position means he will work closely with Super Rugby franchises and provincial unions.
Since his retirement as a professional player, Smith has still retained a close connection to rugby at all levels of the game, including a stint on the Taranaki Rugby Union Board and volunteering as a referee.
Smith said he is eager to make full use of the opportunity to contribute to the future of New Zealand rugby via his new position.
“Rugby has given me so much throughout my life, and I’m looking forward to giving back,” he said. “It’s an exciting time for New Zealand Rugby, with outstanding people joining the organisation in the high performance space.
“To work alongside Don Tricker, Mike Collins and so many talented people across the game is something I am genuinely excited by.
‘Sustainable success doesn’t happen by accident’
“I look forward to developing systems where players, coaches, referees and support staff can all thrive. Sustainable success doesn’t happen by accident. It is built over time through strong relationships, clear systems, quality decision-making and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.
“This role is about young boys and girls coming through community rugby, through our age-grade teams and being the best in the world in our national teams. That’s what inspires me.”
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Meanwhile, Tricker believes Smith’s appointment strengthens NZR’s ability to connect strategy with delivery across the men’s pathway.
“Conrad brings an exceptional combination of lived experience, intellect and credibility. We are delighted to have recruited someone of Conrad’s standing and experience,” he said.
“He has seen all parts of the New Zealand rugby system through his own development and understands what excellence looks like at the highest level.
“This role is about strengthening the entire men’s high performance pathway, from talent identification and development through to our national teams.
“Ultimately, we are developing people that our national teams want to pick, and Conrad’s ability to take people with him makes him exceptionally well placed to lead this work.”
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