Introduction
Albertus Stephanus "Kwagga" Smith (born 11 June 1993) is a South African rugby union player for the South Africa national team, theLions in Super Rugby and Yamaha Júbilo in the Japanese Top League. His regular position is flanker.
He was a member of the South African Sevens team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics and of the South African team that won the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Rugby career
Youth
He played schools rugby for HTS Middelburg in Mpumalanga, which led to his inclusion in thePumas Under-18 squads that played at the Craven Week competitions in 2010 and 2011.
After school, he moved to Johannesburg, where he joined theGolden Lions. He started in nine matches for theGolden Lions U19 side during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship, scoring four tries.
He was selected in the South African Under-20 side that played at the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France. His only appearance in the pool stages came when he came played off the bench in the 97–0 victory over the United States. He didn't play in their matches against England and France, but he did return to the bench for their semi-final clash with Wales. He came on in the first half and scored one of South Africa's two tries in the match, but it wasn't enough to prevent them losing the match 18–17 as Wales progressed to the final. Smith was again named in their final match of the tournament, the third-placed play-off against New Zealand, and once again scored a try for the Baby Boks to help the team to a 41–34 victory and to clinch third place in the competition.
He returned to domestic action later in 2013, making ten appearances for theGolden Lions U21 side in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring four tries in the process. He also played for the same team in the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship.
Sevens
At the end of 2013, Smith joined the South African Sevens side. He made his debut on the international IRB Sevens World Series circuit at the 2013 South Africa Sevens event, helping his side to victory in their home tournament for just the second time ever, beating New Zealand in the Cup final. He appeared in six legs of the 2013–14 IRB Sevens World Series, following up the event in South Africa with appearances in the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Scotland and London legs of the tournament.
He was also selected in the squad that played at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and helped his side to a 17–12 victory over a New Zealand that won the previous four tournaments.
Golden Lions
He was included in theGolden Lions first team squad for the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division and was named on the bench for their Round Two match against theEastern Province Kings in Johannesburg.
2016 Summer Olympics
Smith was included in a 12-man squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was named in the starting line-up for their first match in Group B of the competition against Spain, with South Africa winning the match 24–0.
Yamaha Júbilo
In July 2018, Smith joined Japanese side Yamaha Júbilo for the 2018–19 Top League season.
Senior South Africa
Smith was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Smith played two matches, namely against Namibia and Canada in the pool stage, starting both at openside flanker. South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final.