World Cup-winner Kwagga Smith could join the Sharks

Rugby World Cup-winning flanker Kwagga Smith hopes to force his way into the Blitzboks squad for the Olympic Games and could join the Sharks for Super Rugby 2021.

Afrikaans news publication Rapport claim Smith has made himself available for the London and Paris legs of the World Sevens Series in a bid to make it into the Olympic squad.

Smith is currently based in Japan playing for Top League outfit Yamaha Jubilo having left the Lions after the 2019 season.

It seems that he is also interested in returning to the South African provincial and franchise setups in Durban with the Sharks, where fellow Blitzbok and close friend Werner Kok is signed.

Smith made his Blitzbok debut in 2013 and was part of the Olympic squad that won bronze at the Rio Olympics. In XVs he made his Springbok debut in 2018 against Wales in the USA and has since earned six Test caps.

Kwagga Smith’s rugby history 

Born in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga on 11 June 1993, Smith would attend HTS Middelburg and represent the Pumas at the Craven Week in both 2010 and 2011.

After completing high school, Smith moved to Johannesburg to join the Lions setup. In 2012 he played nine matches for the Lions Under-19 team scoring four tries.

In 2013 he was selected for the South African Under-20 side that played at the IRB Junior World Championship in France. He made two appearances off the bench at the tournament scoring a try in the 18-17 semi-final defeat to Wales. Smith started the third-place playoff against New Zealand, scoring his second try of the tournament as the Baby Boks clinched third.

In 2013 and 2014 he turned out for the Golden Lions Under-21 side and earned his first call-up to the Blitzboks squad.

Blitzbok fame

March 12, 2016 – Vancouver, BC, Canada – South Africa’s Kwagga Smith, right, and Seabelo Senatla celebrate Smith’s try against Scotland during World Rugby Sevens Series’ Canada Sevens tournament action, in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday March 12, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck.

Smith made his World Sevens Series debut at the South African leg of the event at that time held in Nelson Mandela Bay. The Blitzboks won the tournament.

He turned out for the Blitzboks in six legs of the 2013/14 World Sevens Series. He was part of the Blitzboks squad that won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth games.

Smith made his Currie Cup debut for the Golden Lions in 2014 and went on to make 34 appearances at that level. He played 50 Super Rugby matches for the Lions between 2015 and 2019.

His Springbok debut was a horror show, but Rassie Erasmus showed faith in the mobile flanker and included him in his World Cup plans.

Smith is believed to be sought-after by the Sharks who feel he will complement the team’s high-octane style of rugby.