Ryan Smith (rugby union, born 1996)

Ryan Smith (born 30 September 1996) is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby. His playing position is lock.

Early life
Smith was born in Toowoomba. He moved to Caboolture, where he spent most of his early childhood before relocating to Brighton for his schooling years.

Smith started playing rugby union in 2000 for his junior club, the Caboolture Snakes. He played his senior club rugby for Brothers. In his final year at St. Patrick’s, Smith was swimming captain and co-captain of the track and field team. He also represented the 2013 1st XV rugby side that finished 5th overall in the AIC competition.

After school, Smith began playing colts rugby and progressed into the Brothers grades program in 2015. He made his Queensland Premier Rugby debut for Brothers in 2017.

2019
Having trained with the Brumbies for a short time, Smith came into the spotlight after impressing with Brisbane City in the 2019 National Rugby Championship. Smith made his NRC debut in the opening round of the season on 31 August 2019, at GPS Rugby Club. A late try for Smith’s side forced a thrilling 22–22 draw against the defending NRC champions, Fijian Drua.

2020
The lock first featured for the Reds in a 28–19 preseason trial victory over the Waratahs in Dalby on 24 January 2020, before getting a call-up to the Reds' Super Rugby side in May 2020.

2021
Smith made his Super Rugby debut in Round 1 on 19 February 2021, defeating the Waratahs 41–7 at Suncorp Stadium. He entered the match as a 68th minute substitute wearing jersey #19 and became Queensland Reds player #1357. Smith made his Super Rugby starting debut at lock in Round 6 against the Waratahs on 27 March 2021.

On 8 May 2021, the Reds ended their ten-year championship drought and claimed the 2021 Super Rugby AU title. Smith started at lock in the come-from-behind, 19–16 grand final victory over the Brumbies. At Queensland’s end of season awards lunch held at Sirromet winery, Mount Cotton on 18 July 2021, Smith was named Rookie of the Year.

2022
Smith scored his maiden Super Rugby try on 25 February 2022, as Queensland claimed the Bob Templeton Cup in a rain-soaked match against the Waratahs. The try proved to be the Round 2 match-winner, as the Reds held on to win 20–16, at Leichhardt Oval. He went on to score two further tries in the 2022 competition, resulting in a career-best season total of three tries.

2023
Late in the first half of Queensland's second preseason trial against the Waratahs in Narrabri, Smith left the field with a shoulder injury. Smith eventually returned to full fitness and equaled his 2022 haul of three tries over the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.

2024
On 12 April 2024, Smith won his 50th cap for the Reds in a 17–14 loss to Moana Pasifika at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei. Smith’s 50th Super Rugby cap came in his next appearance on 19 April with a dominant 31–0 win against the Highlanders. Smith scored his first try of the 2024 season only 27 minutes into his milestone match.

Smith topped the tackle count for the Reds and made more tackles than any lock over the 2024 Super Rugby season. He finished with 207 tackles (93% success) – fourth overall behind flankers, Carlo Tizzano (240), Dalton Papali’i (208) and Billy Harmon (208).

On 19 July 2024, Smith started for the Reds against a Wales side playing the final match of their 2024 Australia tour. Wales entered the fixture desperate for a win, following a 2-0 Test series defeat to the Wallabies.

The narrow 36-35 loss saw Jock Campbell become the 127th captain in Queensland history, with Smith filling the role of vice-captain for the first time.

2022
In the opening round of the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup on 2 July, Smith made his Australia A debut against Samoa. He received his first international yellow card in the 19th minute of the match, which Australia A went on to lose 31–26 at ANZ Stadium in Suva, Fiji. Smith’s first Australia A win came in his next match, a 32–18 victory over Fiji on 9 July at Churchill Park.

Smith represented Australia A in the Asahi Super Dry Japan Rugby Challenge Series 2022: a three match series against the Japan XV. He came off the bench for the series opener on 1 October at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium and started in the third and final match on 14 October at Yodoko Sakura Stadium. Australia A won the series 2–1.

2023
Smith earned his first Wallabies call-up after coach Eddie Jones made seven changes to a 33-man training squad due to injuries. Fellow Reds team-mate Matt Faessler also received his first Wallabies call-up, joining Smith for the three-day camp starting on 17 April 2023 at Sanctuary Cove.

2024
On 21 June 2024, Joe Schmidt named his first 38-man squad as Wallabies coach. Smith was one of 13 uncapped players selected for the July Test series against Wales and Georgia.