Wayne Smith (rugby union)

Wayne Smith

KNZM

Smith in 2023
Birth name	Wayne Ross Smith
Date of birth	(1957-04-19) 19 April 1957 (age 67)
Place of birth	Putāruru, New Zealand
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	78 kg (12 st 4 lb)
School	Putaruru High School
University	University of Waikato
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1979–1985, 1989 Canterbury 72 (103) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1980–85 New Zealand 17 (6) 1986 New Zealand Cavaliers 1 Coaching career Years Team 1986–88 ASD Rugby Casale 1992–94 Benetton Treviso 1997–99 Crusaders 2000–01 New Zealand 2001–04 Northampton Saints 2004–11 New Zealand (asst. coach) 2012–14 Chiefs (asst. coach) 2015–2017 New Zealand (asst. coach) 2022 New Zealand women
Medal record Representing  New Zealand Women's rugby union Women's Rugby World Cup 2021 New Zealand Team competition

Sir Wayne Ross Smith KNZM (born 19 April 1957) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He has won three Rugby World Cups; he was an assistant coach with New Zealand's men's team, the All Blacks, who won the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, and as head coach of the New Zealand women's team, the Black Ferns, won the 2021 World Cup, held in 2022.

He was previously the head coach of New Zealand's men's team, the All Blacks (2000–2001), and assistant coach for two spells (2004–11 and 2015–2017). He is one of two coaches (with Steve Hansen) to win back-to-back World Cups. He also coached the Crusaders to win the 1998 and 1999 Super Rugby title, and the Chiefs to win the 2012 and 2013 Super Rugby titles.

As a player, Smith won 17 international caps for New Zealand between 1980 and 1985. He also toured with the New Zealand Cavaliers in 1986, playing in one of the test matches against South Africa.