Sam Smith

Time & Leisure, Wednesday 20 July 2011

At just 21 Sam Smith is one of a number of former Quins academy players who will be fighting it out this season to get the call-up from Director of Rugby, Conor O’Shea.

Ugo Monye and Gonzalo Camacho both started for Quins on the wing when they clinched Europe’s Amlin Challenge Cup in May, finishing off the season in style. However, with Monye absent with England and potentially making his way to New Zealand and Camacho moving to Exeter Chiefs, the competition is really starting to hot up.

Harlequins have always prided themselves on the strength of their academy, which continues to produce a team of home grown talent. Monye and current Quins Captain Chris Robshaw, both currently training with the England squad, are products of the academy and last year the London team had the highest number of English Qualified players in the Premiership.

Last season Smith, the ex-Cranleigh School pupil, scored an impressive 7 tries in 6 games but a broken thumb cut his season short. Having previously played for England U16, 18 and 20 and now in the second year of his professional contract, Sam is looking forward to what next season has to offer.

Last Friday saw Sam help Quins secure a place in the JPMorgan Asset Management 7s series final, which will take place at the Stoop, having won the first leg in Bath. A team with only one of the players aged over 21, it was a sign of what is to come:

‘The Quins attitude is to play for each other, which is always made easier when you have known each other for 13 or 14 years as some of us have; we are mates as well as team mates.

‘It is always great to play at home in front of your fans so the final should give us that extra boost, along with the opportunity to win some silverware at the very start of the season.’

Having had two months out last season, Sam continued to train through the five week off season and is now ready to hit pre-season training running.

‘There is so much competition in this current squad that when you get the opportunity you have to be ready to take it. It is going to be an exciting season, especially being back in the Heineken Cup and big matches like Big Game 4 at Twickenham, at Christmas against Saracens.’

Harlequins’ first home game in the Aviva Premiership is on Friday 9^th September at the Twickenham Stoop. For tickets visit the Quins website www.quins.co.uk or calling the Quins ticket office on 08715271315

Sam Smith

Related Links