Marcus Smith (rugby union)

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Marcus Smith
M-smith3.jpg
Smith preparing for a penalty kick, 2018
Birth nameMarcus Sebastian Smith[1]
Date of birth (1999-02-14) 14 February 1999 (age 22)
Place of birthManila, Philippines
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight82 kg (12 st 13 lb; 181 lb)
SchoolBrighton College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Harlequins
Youth career
2012–2017 Brighton
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– Harlequins 113 (1091)
Correct as of 8 November 2021
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 England U18 5 (28)
2017–2019 England U20 7 (59)
2021– England 4 (53)
2021 British & Irish Lions 1 (14)
Correct as of 16 November 2021

Marcus Sebastian Smith (born 14 February 1999) is a professional rugby union player who plays at fly-half for Premiership Rugby side Harlequins. He has played for England since 2021 and was selected as a replacement for the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa. He is widely regarded as one of the best young players in the world.

Background[]

Born in the Philippines to a British father and a Filipina mother,[2] Smith started playing rugby union at the age of seven for Centaurs RFC when his family moved to Singapore.[3] He moved to the United Kingdom at the age of thirteen and subsequently received a sports scholarship to attend Brighton College, where he captained the school's 1st XV.[4] The young fly-half was named Player of the Tournament at the 2016 St Joseph's Rugby Festival.

Club career[]

Developmental[]

The fly-half first represented Harlequins at the 2016 Premiership Rugby Sevens Series.[5]

During the 2016–17 season, as part of the Harlequin Elite Player Development Group (EPDG), Smith played five fixtures for the Harelquin U18s Academy side, scoring two tries; one each against London Irish and Saracens and contributing ten points from the tee in Harlequins U18s Academy Final win over Sale Sharks U18s.[6]

In March 2017, Smith was promoted from the EPDG up to the full-time Academy starting in June.[7]

Smith was named in the 12-man senior squad,[8] alongside another Brighton College graduate Calum Waters, for the 2017 Singha Premiership Rugby Sevens at Franklin's Gardens. Smith scored two tries against London Irish[9] on the first day and assisted Harlequins in reaching the club semi-final before losing out to Newcastle Falcons.[10]

Premiership[]

On 2 September 2017 Smith made his professional debut wearing the number 10 jersey for the senior Harlequins side in the Premiership Rugby London Double Header fixture against London Irish at Twickenham Stadium.[1] Two weeks later, Smith gave a Man-of-the-Match performance against Wasps, helping to end the home side's 20-match winning streak at Ricoh Arena.[11]

He started in the Premiership final against Exeter Chiefs on 26 June 2021 as Harlequins won the game 40–38 in the highest scoring Premiership final ever, which included four conversions from Smith's boot.[12]

International career[]

Youth squads[]

Smith started his first England appearance with a try in an under-16s match victory against Wales in April 2015.[13] In February 2017 Smith represented the England under-20 team against Italy in the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship[14] and then in April 2017 scored a try for the England under-18 team against Ireland.[15]

In May 2017, Smith took part in a training session with the elite senior England squad, during their 3-day camp at Brighton College, in preparation for the Old Mutual Wealth Cup match against the Barbarians and their summer tour to Argentina.[16]

In July 2017 Smith was named in the England U18s squad for a tour of South Africa in August[17] but was withdrawn prior to the tour[17] and instead on 3 August 2017 Smith was named in Eddie Jones' pre-season senior England training squad.[18] Eddie Jones described Smith's inclusion in the senior squad as part of the plan to develop young players as well as to give pressure on experienced players such as Owen Farrell and George Ford.[18]

On 22 September 2017, Smith was named in the 33-man England training squad for a camp in Oxford ahead of the Autumn internationals, although England coach Eddie Jones said he would be "treated like an apprentice".[19] In the following month on 26 October, Smith was called into the England squad for the Autumn international series.[20] He was also part of the training squad during the 2018 Six Nations Championship.[21]

Smith was named in the England U20 squad for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in France[22] and scored tries in pool games against Argentina[23] and Italy.[24] He started at fly-half for the semi-final against South Africa[25] and defeat in the final against France as England finished runners up to the hosts.[26] Smith declined selection for the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[27]

England senior team[]

After declining to join the 2019 U-20 team, Smith instead made his non-capped England debut on 2 June 2019 against the Barbarians.[28] During the game, Smith contributed 26 points, including a try towards a 51–43 victory for England and was awarded Man-of-the-Match for his performance.[29]

On 4 July 2021, Smith made his full England test debut against the United States, contributing 13 points, including a try, in a 43–29 victory.[30] He earned his second start against Canada six days later, with a faultless kicking display in a 70–14 win for England.[31]

In the 2021 Autumn rugby union internationals Smith scored a try as a second-half replacement against Tonga on 6th November, and kicked five conversions. He started the match against Australia the following week as fly-half but often stood outside Owen Farrell until Farrell went off injured in the second half. He played a full match at fly-half against South Africa on 20th November, kicking three conversions and two penalties, one in the last minute to put England ahead by one point, 27-26. In the final phase of play England were awarded a penalty when Francois Steyn dived on Smith with his knees when Smith was on the ground. Smith took a tap kick, as a direct kick to touch would have led to a lineout and not ended the game. Under huge pressure from a number of charging South African players Smith kicked the ball into touch to end the game and ensure victory.

British and Irish Lions[]

On 10 July, Smith was called up to the 2021 British and Irish Lions squad as injury cover for Finn Russell.[32] On 17 July, Smith made his British and Irish Lions debut, playing at fly-half for the full 80 minutes against the Stormers. He converted all 7 tries successfully for a 49–3 win for the Lions.[33]

International tries[]

As of 20 November 2021 [34]
Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  United States London, England Twickenham Stadium 2021 July rugby union tests 4 July 2021 Win 43 – 29
2  Tonga London, England Twickenham Stadium 2021 Autumn Nations Series 6 November 2021 Win 69 – 3

References[]

  1. ^ a b Spink, Alex (19 September 2017). "Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith catches England selectors' eye". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Teenage Filipino-British wunderkind Marcus Smith rewarded by Harlequins rugby club in UK". GMA News Online. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  3. ^ Kitson, Robert (15 July 2021). "Marcus Smith gets to live childhood dream with Lions in South Africa". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  4. ^ Meagher, Gerard (22 September 2017). "Marcus Smith of Quins can be England's X-factor rookie, says Eddie Jones". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Harlequins make one change to Singha sevens squad for Sunday's finals". Harlequins F.C. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  6. ^ Lawton, Andrew (16 February 2017). "Under 18s Academy Finals Day – Final: Harlequins 20 Sale Sharks 8". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Six exciting prospects join Harlequins academy for 2017–18 season". Harlequins F.C. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Harlequins announce squad for Singha Premiership Rugby 7s". Harlequins F.C. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Harlequins progress to Singha 7s quarter finals". Harlequins F.C. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Extra time heartbreak for Harlequins in Singha 7s Semi-final". Harlequins F.C. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  11. ^ Lawton, Andrew (17 September 2017). "Match reaction: Wasps 21 Harlequins 24". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  12. ^ Pilnick, Brent (26 June 2021). "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 38-40 Harlequins - Louis Lynagh's late double clinches title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  13. ^ "England Under 16 emerge victorious over Wales". Harlequins F.C. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  14. ^ Miller, Jack (24 February 2017). "England under-20 secure impressive bonus-point win over Italy". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  15. ^ "England U18 secure impressive victory over Ireland". Premiership Rugby. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  16. ^ Legg, Mike (17 May 2017). "England star George Ford tips Brighton youngster for big future". The Argus. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  17. ^ a b Morgan, Charlie (22 September 2017). "Who is Marcus Smith and why is everyone, including Eddie Jones, so excited about him?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  18. ^ a b Ormiston, Simon (3 August 2017). "Marcus Smith called up to England rugby squad". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  19. ^ Jones, Chris (22 September 2017). "England: Four Lions players left out as Marcus Smith named in training squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Autumn internationals: James Haskell left out of England squad". BBC Sport. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  21. ^ Jones, Chris (18 January 2018). "Six Nations 2018: England name eight uncapped players in squad for Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  22. ^ "2018 World Rugby U20 Championship squad". BBC Sport. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Under-20s World Rugby Championship: England beat Argentina in opener". The Daily Telegraph. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  24. ^ Legg, Mike (3 June 2018). "Marcus Smith sparkles in England U20 win". The Argus. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  25. ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship: England 32-31 South Africa". BBC Sport. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  26. ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship: England lose out to France in final". BBC Sport. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  27. ^ Morgan, Charlie (31 May 2019). "England's Marcus Smith turned down Under-20 World Championship to face Barbarians". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  28. ^ "England enjoy double over Barbarians as men's XV follow up Red Roses' victory". BBC Sport. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  29. ^ Meagher, Gerard (2 June 2019). "England young guns Dombrandt and Smith shine in defeat of Barbarians". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  30. ^ Grey, Becky (4 July 2021). "England 43-29 United States". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  31. ^ Purewal, Nick (10 July 2021). "Marcus Smith pilots England to win over Canada before winning Lions call-up". The Independent. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  32. ^ "British and Irish Lions: Marcus Smith called up after Finn Russell Achilles problem". BBC Sport. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  33. ^ Grey, Becky (17 July 2021). "Stormers 3-49 British and Irish Lions: Tourists complete Test preparations with comfortable win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  34. ^ "Tom Curry". 7 July 2019.

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