Smit set for Kings Park swansong

Smit set for Kings Park swansong

19 Mar 2012

Former Springbok captain John Smit will lead a World Invitational XV against the Sharks on 22 June at Kings Park.

The match is a final farewell to his fans in the KwaZulu-Natal region, and Smit’s team will comprise a number of former Boks as well as a few internationals that he so often played against.

Johann Muller, Ruan Pienaar, Percy Montgomery and BJ Botha are the South Africans set to feature while former Wallabies flank Phil Waugh and All Blacks Luke McAllister and Doug Howlett will also be part of Smit’s team. The side will be coached by Smit’s first coach at the Sharks, Ian MacIntosh.

‘I wanted the opportunity to say my final rugby farewell to fans, and this match is my way to also say thank you to those who have supported me over the years,’ Smit told the Sharks website.

‘We will also be using the game to launch my new foundation, The John Smit Foundation, and begin the fundraising efforts for it.’

The game will be staged at a time when Super Rugby takes a break and South Africa battles England in a three-Test series. It is hoped the match will allow John Plumtree’s Sharks some good match practice before they resume their Super Rugby campaign in July.


21 Comments

  • 1.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 07:36 am

    Should be a really awesome and fun day out.
    Also nice for young Sharks pups to play the heros they were probably watching when they were 13 in std 6.

  • 2.scar: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 07:56 am

    Respect

  • 3.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 07:58 am

    What no swansong for Grant10, justrugby, skop and all their Cronies?? I mean who is John Smit to have this?

  • 4.ufo: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 08:07 am

    so the for the first time (i believe)…

    in this corner ladies and gentlemen…

    Bismarck “The Battleship” Du Plessis… ready to unleash the fire and brimstone upon his opponent…

    in this corner ladies and gentlemen…

    John “The Gentleman” Smit… ready to pull the plug on The Battleship…

    Who will be victorious…? Who will silence his critics and whose fans will go home with tail between their legs…?

    Yes… ladies and gentlemen… This is the Battle of the UnHappy Hookers…!!

    Let’s get ready to RUUUUUUUUUUUMBUUUUUUUUULLLL….!!!

  • 5.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 08:10 am

    UFO – bissy will be busy with the Boks.

  • 6.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 08:12 am

    UFO Bissie won’t play as he will be playing against England…

  • 7.ufo: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 08:16 am

    awwwww… shucks… :sad:

    :lol:

  • 8.welcome to my life, hugh...: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 09:21 am

    just go out there and have fun, john. you deserve it.

  • 9.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 09:21 am

    I would love to go down and watch this game, most proberly won’t be on tv.

  • 10.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 09:24 am

    Last chance for Grant10 to fire some verbal shots at Captain Fantastic :mrgreen:

  • 11.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 09:28 am

    Treehugger – not sure G10 would say much here. Nothing to say really. Nor should Ollie le Roux (read ashapampaloobollox) say much. At the end of the day, a great servant of the game is being honoured in the same way Teich was in 1999 with that legends game versus the sharks pups. I remember when smal, honniball, muller and thompson opened the then sharks back line up wider than the kiwis smile afer the boks rwc qf debacle.

  • 12.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 09:28 am

    Might have been 2000

  • 13.Shark: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 10:41 am

    Smit leading again. Some people are just born to lead and some to follow and then we have the wannabe leaders like Luke Twatson.

  • 14.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 11:03 am

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-10: You blogging from the tjoekie??

    Seriously though, hope you’re ok.

  • 15.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 11:08 am

    A great send off for a great captain.

    I hope they televise it, will be great to watch.

  • 16.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 11:12 am

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-14:

    don’t panic.

    I will smuggle her some sausage.

  • 17.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 12:24 pm

    Not in chookie yet, but am now getting a bit nervous with the waiting. Cops phoned bout half an hour ago and I cut the call off by mistake taking this dam phone out of pouch, phoned the station right back gave my name and told them to tell who ever to phone back, am still waiting.

  • 18.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 12:26 pm

    11@Bullet… Those guys were all such brilliant players.

  • 19.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 13:28 pm

    Bryce to ref the game?

  • 20.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    19 Mar 2012, 15:27 pm

    born to lead but as a player – very overrated

    Uli Schmidt is great hooker we have produced

  • 21.peachy: Reply to this comment
    20 Mar 2012, 03:03 am

    John Smit take a bour fella hope this game sticks with you like so many others its great that you get this reconition for your service as a player and to have Ian Macintosh as the coach is bloody
    awsome

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