World Cup-winning All Black Conrad Smith has returned to New Zealand Rugby (NZR) in a role with the high-performance team.
Smith, a veteran of the legendary 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup campaigns, has been appointed as head of men’s high performance.
He told Piney it’s a great opportunity and something he thinks will challenge him.
Looking back at the rugby talents of the past, Smith believes New Zealand was producing so many great players because of the great environment that surrounded the sport.
He says we wanted to be the greatest of all time, and while he’s not suggesting that we’re suddenly going to get back to that at the click of the fingers, but it’s what you aspire for.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Conrad Smith one of the finest midfielders ever to wear
the black jersey, a two time Rugby World Cup winner,
ninety four Test All Black, and a player whose calmness, rugby,
intelligence and leadership made him one of the great centers
of the professional era. Since retiring, he hasn't really stepped
away from the game at all. He served on the
Taranaki Rugby Union Board, worked with the International Rugby Players
(00:36):
Association and even picked up the whistle as a community referee.
And now he's embarking on his next off field challenge.
This week, New Zealand Rugby have appointed him their new
head of Men's High Performance, a role charged with helping
shape the future of the men's game, from identifying and
developing talent to supporting coaches, referees and staff, all with
(00:58):
the goal of keeping New Zealand at the top of
world rugby or in fact getting us back there. Conrad
Smith is with us. Congratulations on the appointment. Conrad, Welcome
into the show. When this opportunity came along, what was
it that made you think, you know what this is?
Something I really want to do.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Yeah, a few different things, I suppose. You know, I've
been whilst out of the game and the playing sense,
I've still been involved pretty much from when I finished
in Trance, I sort of did a bit of coaching
and some work and high performance and then more recently
with the international rugby players, so I've been involved with
(01:40):
the game and then really it was just an opportunity
that that came along. I love the work of high
performance and you know it's the term we band around now,
but it's really around the support close to teams, but
not directly with teams, and towards the end of my
playing career, I suppose the value of that work done
(02:04):
it New Zealand Rugby level done it even Hurricanes and
clubs and you know those people that put all the
structures around either the pathway of developing players and coaches
and referees and and all of that. It was something
that appealed to me, as I say is sort of
as I was finishing playing and still in sort of
(02:25):
more recent years, and then an opportunity to join back
with New Zealand Rugby having sort of sat at a
World Rugby and more sort of international stage or environment
for the last few years. That it was just a
great opportunity for myself and something I think that will
challenge me and yeah, just seemed right.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
So nuts and bolts and day to day, what will
your role involve, what will it look like?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
I think there's a lot of coordination that that needs
to be done at around New Zealand rugby. So by
that I mean with the super the rugby clubs, the
provincial unions and even right down into the school system
when we talk out the pathways of players, you know,
like I'm working under Don Tricker, so he's a big
(03:13):
part of the reason I applied. He's a he's a
quality operator, someone I was lucky enough to know when
during my playing career I saw the work he had
done with the team. So he's very much leading around
the strategy. So I'll be following his lead to a
large extent. But as I said before, taking that that
strategy and how we agree and then working with across
(03:38):
the landscape dispose of men's rugby and New Zealand and
agreeing and so that covers seventh rugby as well as
the age group rugby and you know, the clubs and
teams that I that I mentioned before. So yeah, it's
a it's a big job. It's an agreement. But as
I said before, it it's something I've sort of been
(04:00):
while not directly involved in. I have seen an operation
and I feel like an add something.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So success in this role then, Conrad, is it as
simple as those teams winning more consistently or is there
more to it than that?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I mean, good question. Yeah, it is in a simple sense.
You know, you want teams, particularly our teams in black
to be to be winning and performing at their best.
But yeah, I think when you talk high performance, it
is a wider focus. So you want players coming through
and pushing the teams. Like, ultimately you see success on
(04:38):
the field, but you want to be see that success
through the pathway. So and it's a longer term strategy.
I think you'd appreciate, Like, you don't get judged on
immediate results in this sort of line of work. It's
more the pathways that you you're out, so you constantly
(04:59):
you want to be seeing players coming through, coaches coming
through that are really skilled and out their best and
where we're world leading in the environments we're creating right
across the spectrum and you want to be creating a
great culture, you know you want to. I'd like to
see a real buzz around rugby in New Zealand, and
(05:20):
that's the community game. That's kids wanting to play club rugby,
wanting to play for their school and wanting to be
inspired by what the teams in black are doing. But
that you know that the whole, the whole rugby landscape
is sort of performing well.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
He's only Rugby's had enormous success obviously, but also challenges participation,
player retention, competition from other sports. Where do you see
the biggest opportunity for the game over the next I
don't know, five to ten years.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yeah, there are a lot of challenges. I think in
terms of opportunities, it's it's it's sort of walking towards
them and taking them on. I think the opportunity is
that still the ip we create in terms of what
New Zealand rugby produced, in terms of the players, the
coaches is the best in the world and we are
(06:13):
really good at exporting that out and a lot of
other countries benefit from the quality coaches and players that
we produce. But I think we can do better in
not just retaining but sort of bringing a lot of
that ip back and getting the most out of it
for our own benefit rather than other countries benefiting from it.
(06:35):
So and that's just you know, I've said this before,
but like just having a really good environment here in
New Zealand, having great relationships even with people that have
left our shores, so that they want to come back
and we still get something out of them that when
they're not lost to us. So I think, you know,
to simplify, I think there's a whole lot of opportunities,
(06:56):
but that would be one that I want to see
us do better at. So you know, if we lose
a coach overseas, that that's not a permanent loss, that
that might be something they want to go experience something
and live overseas and they can do that, but you know,
they'll still come back because they love New Zealand and
they can still add something even if they've gone away
(07:17):
for a short time.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
If we go right to the top of the men's game,
to the All Blacks, you played in a tremendously successful
era of All Blacks rugby, a couple of World Cup
wins and some magnificent teams you played in when you
look back, now, what do you think made those all
blacks environments so consistently successful?
Speaker 3 (07:36):
A lot of what we've talked about, I think there
was amazing support around the team, and look at something
I'd save a lot, you know, in more recent times
that I sort of reflect on things more people talk
about generational talents and they'll talk about the Riches Dans
and say, oh, you know, we were a once in
(07:57):
a lifetime. But I still think like there might be
an element of truth to that, but that this is
like we were producing a number of great players and
that was happening because we had a great environment. You know,
we had everything in place, and we might have done
a little bit of that way accident. You know, we
(08:17):
would have just had great coaches that wanted to serve
New Zealand and they stuck around and did years of service.
A lot of it could have been voluntary and all
that sort of stuff, but that the fact was it
was an environment that you had all these players desperately
wanting to represent the Jersey and giving their role, and
around that you had coaches and you had people that
(08:40):
just wanted to join. And so the physios were world class.
The managers were world class and everyone around that, you know,
listed their game because that's what the culture was. We
wanted to be the greatest of all time and those things.
You know, that's not easy, and I'm not suggesting that
(09:00):
we're suddenly going to get back to that and the
clear of the fingers, but but that's what you that's
what you're spy for, and you get people willing to
do that, and I think that's what Keywi's we do well,
like we do it across all sports and all sorts
of different fields and different industries. When we get all
aligned and get excited about a vision, then we're bloody
(09:23):
good at pulling together and making the best of To
be honest, what we don't have a lot of resource.
We're a tiny country, but when we work together we
produce some pretty special things.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
It's a great aspiration. And Dave Reenie's only just started,
of course as head coach. One test down against France
last weekend, a big year ahead. How do you assess
his ability with a quite a short runway to get
this All Blacks team ready for Rugby World Cup next year.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah, I've been really impressed. I was. Fortunately, I had
a couple of days up with the team in Auckland
before their first game, and I just it is a
great feel to the team. And you know, you can't
judge a lot from something like that when I was
only there for I don't know, forty eight hours, but yeah,
there's a sense he is a manner about him and
(10:12):
I'd heard that and knew that from his time at
the Chiefs and even in Australia. My work sort of
allowed me to talk to a fair few of the
Wallabye boys and they had a lot of respect and
admiration for what he did. So that's always a good sign.
And I consent that already from this short time he's
(10:32):
had with the team. And look, I was really impressed.
I know it was the first game and I've been
there before and Army were easy when you come from
different clubs and you've cobbled together for a couple of weeks.
But I thought there were signs of really good team
and players that were given. They're all so that that's
the stuff that's often more important than the technical things
(10:56):
that that takes a bit longer. You know that there
was a real willingness and effort from the ads, So yeah,
if that can continue We're in for an exciting year.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Absolutely. We are well gonray Ca and Ras on this
new role. I know you haven't started yet, but thanks
for taking the time for a chat and look forward
to to staying in touch across the next little while.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Not a problem, always every to chat.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Good David on the show. Conrad, thanks indeed. Conrad Smith,
our new head of men's high Performance at New Zealand Rugby,
joining us here on News.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
TALKSBB for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to News Talks EDB weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Conrad Smith one of the finest midfielders ever to wear
the black jersey, a two time Rugby World Cup winner,
ninety four Test All Black, and a player whose calmness, rugby,
intelligence and leadership made him one of the great centers
of the professional era. Since retiring, he hasn't really stepped
away from the game at all. He served on the
Taranaki Rugby Union Board, worked with the International Rugby Players
(00:36):
Association and even picked up the whistle as a community referee.
And now he's embarking on his next off field challenge.
This week, New Zealand Rugby have appointed him their new
head of Men's High Performance, a role charged with helping
shape the future of the men's game, from identifying and
developing talent to supporting coaches, referees and staff, all with
(00:58):
the goal of keeping New Zealand at the top of
world rugby or in fact getting us back there. Conrad
Smith is with us. Congratulations on the appointment. Conrad, Welcome
into the show. When this opportunity came along, what was
it that made you think, you know what this is?
Something I really want to do.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Yeah, a few different things, I suppose. You know, I've
been whilst out of the game and the playing sense,
I've still been involved pretty much from when I finished
in Trance, I sort of did a bit of coaching
and some work and high performance and then more recently
with the international rugby players, so I've been involved with
(01:40):
the game and then really it was just an opportunity
that that came along. I love the work of high
performance and you know it's the term we band around now,
but it's really around the support close to teams, but
not directly with teams, and towards the end of my
playing career, I suppose the value of that work done
(02:04):
it New Zealand Rugby level done it even Hurricanes and
clubs and you know those people that put all the
structures around either the pathway of developing players and coaches
and referees and and all of that. It was something
that appealed to me, as I say is sort of
as I was finishing playing and still in sort of
(02:25):
more recent years, and then an opportunity to join back
with New Zealand Rugby having sort of sat at a
World Rugby and more sort of international stage or environment
for the last few years. That it was just a
great opportunity for myself and something I think that will
challenge me and yeah, just seemed right.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
So nuts and bolts and day to day, what will
your role involve, what will it look like?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
I think there's a lot of coordination that that needs
to be done at around New Zealand rugby. So by
that I mean with the super the rugby clubs, the
provincial unions and even right down into the school system
when we talk out the pathways of players, you know,
like I'm working under Don Tricker, so he's a big
(03:13):
part of the reason I applied. He's a he's a
quality operator, someone I was lucky enough to know when
during my playing career I saw the work he had
done with the team. So he's very much leading around
the strategy. So I'll be following his lead to a
large extent. But as I said before, taking that that
strategy and how we agree and then working with across
(03:38):
the landscape dispose of men's rugby and New Zealand and
agreeing and so that covers seventh rugby as well as
the age group rugby and you know, the clubs and
teams that I that I mentioned before. So yeah, it's
a it's a big job. It's an agreement. But as
I said before, it it's something I've sort of been
(04:00):
while not directly involved in. I have seen an operation
and I feel like an add something.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So success in this role then, Conrad, is it as
simple as those teams winning more consistently or is there
more to it than that?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I mean, good question. Yeah, it is in a simple sense.
You know, you want teams, particularly our teams in black
to be to be winning and performing at their best.
But yeah, I think when you talk high performance, it
is a wider focus. So you want players coming through
and pushing the teams. Like, ultimately you see success on
(04:38):
the field, but you want to be see that success
through the pathway. So and it's a longer term strategy.
I think you'd appreciate, Like, you don't get judged on
immediate results in this sort of line of work. It's
more the pathways that you you're out, so you constantly
(04:59):
you want to be seeing players coming through, coaches coming
through that are really skilled and out their best and
where we're world leading in the environments we're creating right
across the spectrum and you want to be creating a
great culture, you know you want to. I'd like to
see a real buzz around rugby in New Zealand, and
(05:20):
that's the community game. That's kids wanting to play club rugby,
wanting to play for their school and wanting to be
inspired by what the teams in black are doing. But
that you know that the whole, the whole rugby landscape
is sort of performing well.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
He's only Rugby's had enormous success obviously, but also challenges participation,
player retention, competition from other sports. Where do you see
the biggest opportunity for the game over the next I
don't know, five to ten years.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yeah, there are a lot of challenges. I think in
terms of opportunities, it's it's it's sort of walking towards
them and taking them on. I think the opportunity is
that still the ip we create in terms of what
New Zealand rugby produced, in terms of the players, the
coaches is the best in the world and we are
(06:13):
really good at exporting that out and a lot of
other countries benefit from the quality coaches and players that
we produce. But I think we can do better in
not just retaining but sort of bringing a lot of
that ip back and getting the most out of it
for our own benefit rather than other countries benefiting from it.
(06:35):
So and that's just you know, I've said this before,
but like just having a really good environment here in
New Zealand, having great relationships even with people that have
left our shores, so that they want to come back
and we still get something out of them that when
they're not lost to us. So I think, you know,
to simplify, I think there's a whole lot of opportunities,
(06:56):
but that would be one that I want to see
us do better at. So you know, if we lose
a coach overseas, that that's not a permanent loss, that
that might be something they want to go experience something
and live overseas and they can do that, but you know,
they'll still come back because they love New Zealand and
they can still add something even if they've gone away
(07:17):
for a short time.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
If we go right to the top of the men's game,
to the All Blacks, you played in a tremendously successful
era of All Blacks rugby, a couple of World Cup
wins and some magnificent teams you played in when you
look back, now, what do you think made those all
blacks environments so consistently successful?
Speaker 3 (07:36):
A lot of what we've talked about, I think there
was amazing support around the team, and look at something
I'd save a lot, you know, in more recent times
that I sort of reflect on things more people talk
about generational talents and they'll talk about the Riches Dans
and say, oh, you know, we were a once in
(07:57):
a lifetime. But I still think like there might be
an element of truth to that, but that this is
like we were producing a number of great players and
that was happening because we had a great environment. You know,
we had everything in place, and we might have done
a little bit of that way accident. You know, we
(08:17):
would have just had great coaches that wanted to serve
New Zealand and they stuck around and did years of service.
A lot of it could have been voluntary and all
that sort of stuff, but that the fact was it
was an environment that you had all these players desperately
wanting to represent the Jersey and giving their role, and
around that you had coaches and you had people that
(08:40):
just wanted to join. And so the physios were world class.
The managers were world class and everyone around that, you know,
listed their game because that's what the culture was. We
wanted to be the greatest of all time and those things.
You know, that's not easy, and I'm not suggesting that
(09:00):
we're suddenly going to get back to that and the
clear of the fingers, but but that's what you that's
what you're spy for, and you get people willing to
do that, and I think that's what Keywi's we do well,
like we do it across all sports and all sorts
of different fields and different industries. When we get all
aligned and get excited about a vision, then we're bloody
(09:23):
good at pulling together and making the best of To
be honest, what we don't have a lot of resource.
We're a tiny country, but when we work together we
produce some pretty special things.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
It's a great aspiration. And Dave Reenie's only just started,
of course as head coach. One test down against France
last weekend, a big year ahead. How do you assess
his ability with a quite a short runway to get
this All Blacks team ready for Rugby World Cup next year.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah, I've been really impressed. I was. Fortunately, I had
a couple of days up with the team in Auckland
before their first game, and I just it is a
great feel to the team. And you know, you can't
judge a lot from something like that when I was
only there for I don't know, forty eight hours, but yeah,
there's a sense he is a manner about him and
(10:12):
I'd heard that and knew that from his time at
the Chiefs and even in Australia. My work sort of
allowed me to talk to a fair few of the
Wallabye boys and they had a lot of respect and
admiration for what he did. So that's always a good sign.
And I consent that already from this short time he's
(10:32):
had with the team. And look, I was really impressed.
I know it was the first game and I've been
there before and Army were easy when you come from
different clubs and you've cobbled together for a couple of weeks.
But I thought there were signs of really good team
and players that were given. They're all so that that's
the stuff that's often more important than the technical things
(10:56):
that that takes a bit longer. You know that there
was a real willingness and effort from the ads, So yeah,
if that can continue We're in for an exciting year.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Absolutely. We are well gonray Ca and Ras on this
new role. I know you haven't started yet, but thanks
for taking the time for a chat and look forward
to to staying in touch across the next little while.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Not a problem, always every to chat.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Good David on the show. Conrad, thanks indeed. Conrad Smith,
our new head of men's high Performance at New Zealand Rugby,
joining us here on News.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
TALKSBB for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to News Talks EDB weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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