Biography
Aaron Luke Smith, born 21 November 1988 in Palmerston North, carved out a legendary career as one of the quickest, sharpest, and most influential scrum-halves New Zealand has ever produced. Standing 171 cm and built for speed, Smith became the heartbeat of both the Highlanders and the All Blacks for more than a decade. His crisp passing, tempo control and energy around the breakdown defined the modern No.9 role. By the time he stepped away from Test rugby in 2023, he had earned 124 caps—making him the All Blacks’ second most-capped back—and remained a fan favourite for his leadership, professionalism and fiery competitive edge.
List of Teams Played For
- Manawatu: 2008–2021
- Highlanders: 2011–2023
- Toyota Verblitz: 2024–
- New Zealand U20: 2008
- Māori All Blacks: 2010
- New Zealand (All Blacks): 2012–2023
Rugby World Cups Played
- 2015 Rugby World Cup – Gold
- 2019 Rugby World Cup – Bronze
- 2023 Rugby World Cup – Silver
Key Career Moments
Smith burst into provincial rugby early, debuting for Manawatu at just 19 during the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup. By 2009 he was the Turbos’ first-choice half-back, starting every match and establishing himself as a rising star. His consistency earned him a shot in Super Rugby, signing with the Highlanders in 2011 and quickly becoming a central figure in the squad.
His international journey began with the Māori All Blacks in 2010, where he contributed to historic wins over Ireland and England. In 2012 he debuted for the All Blacks against Ireland and soon became the national side’s first-choice No.9. Through crisp delivery and impeccable decision-making, Smith reshaped how New Zealand played off the base of the ruck.
The peak came in 2015 when he started all knockout matches in a dominant All Blacks campaign that ended with the World Cup trophy. Between 2016 and 2018, Smith also stepped into a cultural leadership role, leading both Ka Mate and Kapa o Pango in 35 haka performances.
Milestones kept coming: in 2018 he became New Zealand’s most-capped scrum-half, breaking Justin Marshall’s long-standing record. In 2021 he became the tenth All Black to reach 100 tests—and the first of Māori descent to do so.
Smith’s final Test came in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa, closing an extraordinary international career. After announcing his retirement from Test rugby, he moved to Japan to join Toyota Verblitz, continuing his club journey abroad.