Conrad Smith appointed Head of Men's High Performance
Conrad Smith appointed NZR Head of Men's High Performance
The appointment reinforces NZR's commitment to a world-leading high-performance system that delivers sustained success through the development of exceptional players, coaches, match officials and support staff.
Smith will join NZR in early September and report to Director of High Performance Don Tricker. He will lead the delivery of the men's high-performance programme across the New Zealand game, including working closely with Super Rugby clubs and Provincial Unions.
Since retiring from professional rugby, Smith has remained closely connected to the sport at all levels, including serving on the Taranaki Rugby Union Board, volunteering as a referee and working as the Chief of Rugby Operations for the International Rugby Players Association.
Rugbyhasgivenmesomuchthroughoutmylife,andI'mlookingforwardtogivingback.It'sanexcitingtimeforNewZealandRugby,withoutstandingpeoplejoiningtheorganisationinthehighperformancespace.ToworkalongsideDonTricker,MikeCollinsandsomanytalentedpeopleacrossthegameissomethingIamgenuinelyexcitedby.Ilookforwardtodevelopingsystemswhereplayers,coaches,refereesandsupportstaffcanallthrive.Sustainablesuccessdoesn'thappenbyaccident.Itisbuiltovertimethroughstrongrelationships,clearsystems,qualitydecision-makingandasharedcommitmenttocontinuousimprovement.Thisroleisaboutyoungboysandgirlscomingthroughcommunityrugby,throughourage-gradeteamsandbeingthebestintheworldinournationalteams.That’swhatinspiresme.Conrad Smith, newly appointed NZR Head of Men's High Performance
WATCH: Conrad Smith's journey to the All Blacks
Conradbringsanexceptionalcombinationoflivedexperience,intellectandcredibility.WearedelightedtohaverecruitedsomeoneofConrad’sstandingandexperience.HehasseenallpartsoftheNewZealandrugbysystemthroughhisowndevelopmentandunderstandswhatexcellencelookslikeatthehighestlevel.Thisroleisaboutstrengtheningtheentiremen'shighperformancepathway,fromtalentidentificationanddevelopmentthroughtoournationalteams.Ultimately,wearedevelopingpeoplethatournationalteamswanttopickandConrad'sabilitytotakepeoplewithhimmakeshimexceptionallywellplacedtoleadthiswork.Don Tricker, NZR Director of High Performance
All Black #1044 | Conrad Smith
About Conrad Smith
All Black #1044, Conrad Smith played 94 Test matches for New Zealand between 2004 and 2015, scoring 130 points and winning the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015.
A graduate of Francis Douglas Memorial College and Victoria University of Wellington, Smith played his club rugby for Old Boys University in Wellington.
He is a qualified lawyer and has worked for the International Rugby Players Association as their Chief of Rugby Operations since 2018.
He has also recently become involved in refereeing in community rugby, continuing his contribution to the game from a new perspective
