Lee Smith (rugby)

Lee Smith (born 8 August 1986) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a goal-kicking centre, wing or fullback for the Bradford Bulls in Betfred League 1.[2][3][4]

Lee Smith
Personal information
Born (1986-08-08) 8 August 1986
Morley, West Yorkshire, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight17 st 10 lb (112 kg) [1]
Playing information
Rugby league
PositionWing, Fullback, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2005–09 Leeds Rhinos 105 52 25 1 259
2010–12 Leeds Rhinos 54 19 12 0 100
2012–13 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 35 17 64 2 198
2015 Wakefield Trinity 6 6 15 1 55
2016 Leigh Centurions 23 12 36 0 120
2017–18 Bradford Bulls 23 8 4 0 40
Total 246 114 156 4 772
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2006–09 England 8 7 1 0 30
Rugby union
PositionOutside centre, Fullback, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2009–10 London Wasps 2 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Newcastle Falcons 10 4 3 0 28
2019– Yorkshire Carnegie
Total 12 4 3 0 28
As of 9 September 2018
Source: [2][3][4]

He has previously played rugby union with the London Wasps and the Newcastle Falcons,[5] and played rugby league for the Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the Super League.

Early life

Smith attended Bruntcliffe High School in Morley, Leeds. He joined Leeds academy as a teenager and was named Senior Academy Player of the Year in 2003, with the team winning their Grand Final. Smith represented England at U17 and U18 level.

Rugby League

Leeds Rhinos

Smith broke into the Leeds first team in 2005 but still captained the Senior Academy team to Grand Final success in 2006 against Hull. Smith made his début for the Leeds Rhinos first team on 28 March 2005 against Wakefield Trinity. He went on to make 10 appearances in his first season, scoring an impressive 8 tries.

Smith further established himself as a first team player in 2006, making 21 appearances and scoring 9 tries.

In 2007 Smith made 21 appearances and scored 8 tries. Most notably the Leeds fourth of five tries in the 33-6 Grand Final victory over St Helens.[6]

Smith in the United States representing the Leeds Rhinos

He played in 2008 World Club Challenge on 29 February at Elland Road in which Leeds beat Melbourne Storm 11–4.

The 2008 season was arguably Smith's best to date, making 25 appearances and scoring a joint career best 13 tries. Leeds again defeated St Helens to win the Grand Final, 24–16. Smith had to deputise at full-back after Brent Webb was ruled out after suffering a recurrence of a back injury sustained earlier in the season. Smith scored Leeds' opening try, making it the second year in a row he had scored in the Grand Final. He was awarded the Harry Sunderland Trophy (Man of the Match).[7]

In 2009 Smith switched from his usual wing position to centre. This did not affect his try scoring record though as he again scored 13 tries, but in just 24 appearances. On 23 June 2009 Smith signed a two-year contract to join Rugby Union side the London Wasps after the Super League season had ended.[8]

Leeds won the Grand Final for a record third season in a row & Smith marked, what should have been, his final game for the club with 2 tries in the 18–10 victory over St Helens at Old Trafford. This meant Smith had scored in three consecutive Grand Finals.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Return to Leeds

Smith was given the number 28 jersey. Smith effectively made his second début for Leeds on 1 April 2010 against Bradford, scoring 2 tries in a 20–20 draw.[21]

He played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.[22][23]

Smith went on to make a further 22 appearances in 2010, scoring a further 8 tries.

In 2011 he visited and participated in the Wheelchair rugby league at Morley Leisure Centre.[24]

During the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Smith's game time was limited due to injury and the emergence of a number of young outside backs at Leeds.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

As a result of limited gametime at Leeds he was allowed to join the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats mid-season in 2012 of which coach Richard Agar was very pleased.[25]

Return to Wakefield

Smith returned to rugby league with Wakefield at the end of the 2015 Super League season, and played a key role in the club retaining their Super League status. Despite this, he once again left the club at the end of the 2015 season.

Hull FC

Smith earned himself a trial at Super League club Hull F.C. after impressing coach Lee Radford while training with the club.[26]

Leigh Centurions

Smith played for the Leigh Centurions during the 2016 season.

Bradford Bulls

Smith moved to the Bradford Bulls from the 2017 season. After a mixed 2017 he was named club captain under new coach John Kear for the 2018 season.

International

He was selected in 2006, along with six of his Leeds teammates, to represent England in the Federation Shield tournament. He scored a try in the opening match against France & then scored a last minute try in England's second game against Tonga. He also came off the bench in the third game against Samoa. He then played in the final as England completed their unbeaten tournament with a 32–14 win, again over Tonga.[27]

Smith with England at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup

Smith was selected for the England squad to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup tournament in Australia.[28] Group A's opening match against Papua New Guinea he played on the wing and scored three tries in England's victory. He then only made one further appearance as England endured a disappointing tournament, crashing out in the semi-finals without winning another match.

Smith was selected for England again in 2009, for the Four Nations tournament. He scored a try in the victory over France and in the defeat by Australia but then missed out as England went on to lose in the final against Australia.

Rugby Union

London Wasps

Smith made just one appearance for the London Wasps, in a 9–3 victory against the Newcastle Falcons in the LV Cup on 7 February 2010, before his contract was mutually terminated. It is understood that Smith missing his home, family & friends were the reason behind the termination. After what was one of the shortest code switches in history, Smith signed a three and a half-year deal with former club Leeds.[29][30]

Newcastle Falcons

On 10 February 2014 he was drafted by Newcastle Falcons[31] and in March of the same year played against Leicester Tigers.[32]

References
  1. "Leeds Rhinos Players & Coaches 1st Team". web page. Leeds Rhinos. 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  2. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "Wasps sign league star Smith". London Wasps official website. 22 June 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  6. "2007 Grand Final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  7. "2008 Grand Final". BBC Sport. 4 October 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  8. "Lee Smith agrees cross-code switch from Leeds to Wasps". The Guardian. 23 June 2008. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  9. "Rhinos Take Super League Title". Sky News. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  10. Burke, David (11 October 2009). "Smith's Crisp". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  11. AFP (11 October 2009). "Leeds makes it Super League hat-trick". ABC News. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  12. AAP (11 October 2009). "Leeds claim third successive Grand Final". nrl. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  13. Linfoot, Ben (10 October 2009). "Grand Final: Leeds Rhinos 18 St Helens 10". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  14. Correspondent (12 October 2009). "Potter refuses to blame video ref". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  15. Fletcher, Paul (10 October 2009). "St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  16. "Third time unlucky as Saints fail to halt Rhinos' charge to title". Liverpool Daily Post. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  17. "Sinfield hails winning culture". The Daily Mirror. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  18. Stewart, Rob (12 October 2009). "Lee Smith targets place in England rugby union team after Grand Final victory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  19. "Sinfield hails historic title win". BBC Sport. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  20. "Leeds Rhinos fans in homecoming welcome". Yorkshire Evening Post. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  21. "Leeds Rhinos star Lee Smith insists he is not a rugby union flop". The Telegraph. 31 March 2010. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  22. Scott, Ged (28 August 2010). "Leeds 6–30 Warrington". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  23. Wilson, Andy (28 August 2010). "Chris Hicks hat-trick leads Warrington to Challenge Cup triumph over Leeds". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  24. "Smith tags along to Wheelchair Rugby League Session". Rugby Football League. 15 July 2011. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  25. "Wakefield Wildcats make Lee Smith switch permanent". 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  26. Lee Smith on trial at Hull FC, Love Rugby League, 1 December 2015
  27. "England 32-14 Tonga". BBC Sport. 12 November 2006. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  28. "Purdham earns World Cup call-up". BBC Sport. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  29. "Lee Smith rejoins Leeds Rhinos after leaving Wasps". BBC Sport. 31 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  30. "Wakefield sign Lee Smith from Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  31. "Newcastle Falcons: Lee Smith joins from Wakefield Wildcats". BBC Sport. 10 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  32. Mark Smith (19 March 2014). "Newcastle Falcons' Lee Smith getting to grips with rugby union". Chronicle. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
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