New Wallabies Coach, Joe Schmidt, has looked to youth to bring an impact in his first training squad and ex-Caboolture Snakes star, current Queensland Reds star, Ryan Smith has caught his eye.
Three July home games against Wales and Georgia on consecutive Saturdays will need a large squad, giving the uncapped Smith hope of running on in the green and gold.
Back in 2007 as a Caboolture Snake junior he was on the sidelines at Suncorp, dreaming of plying for the Reds which happened a decade later. He returned to the club a couple of years ago for a club function
and again in 2024:
Having played for his school, St Patrick’s in the AIC, Smith stamped his authority as a leader when he captained the school swimming team and the track and field team.
In 2023, former Wallabies Coach, Eddie Jones, included Smith in a 33-man training squad at Sanctuary Squad.
His journey with the Reds had a massive start when he was voted Rookie of the Year in their 2021 Super Rugby Championship win. Having topped the tackle count ladder both for the Reds and amongst all Super Rugby Locks in 2024, Joe Schmidt may well give him a run to see if his intense defence may add an extra dimension to the Wallabies backrow.
The Reds Lock has already represented Australia A four times.
Published 22-June-2024
