Where is iconic Springbok captain John Smit now?
Where is iconic Springbok captain John Smit now?
John Smit will always hold a special place in the history books of Springbok and South African rugby.
Smit of course captained the Springboks to their 2007 Rugby World Cup victory, a crowning achievement in a glittering career, and overall he led the national side in 83 games.
He remains far and away the most-capped Springbok captain of all time, with Siya Kolisi next in line with 53.
Overall, he featured for the Springboks on 111 occasions, which currently leaves him fifth on the all-time list. He led the Springboks to two Tri-Nations titles (now the Rugby Championship) and a series win over the famed British & Irish Lions in 2009.
Domestically, Smit spent most of his professional career with the Sharks, racking up nearly 200 appearances across all competitions, making him one of the most capped players in the franchise’s history.
His leadership was a constant for the Sharks, and while they didn’t achieve ultimate success during his tenure, they did reach the finals of both the 2001 Super 12 and 2007 Super 14.
The hooker, who also transitioned into a role at tighthead prop, had a brief stint with Clermont in France, while he wound down his career with Saracens in England.
John Smit, a true Springbok great, is now a successful businessman
After retiring in 2013, Smit took over as Sharks CEO from 2013 to 2016. He was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011 and in April 2018, he was elected to the board of SA Rugby as a players’ representative.
The former Springbok captain now serves as the Group CEO at SSG Holdings – a company that provides security, facilities management and cleaning solutions to the South African Market.
“John joined SSG in February 2019 bringing substantial corporate experience combined with a ‘winning team’ approach to our group of companies,” his company profile reads. “Being a natural leader, John quickly gained the respect and trust of the SSG team and has aligned the company for sustainable and responsible growth through an innovative and clear-cut strategy.”
New venture
Smit recently led the way in launching Avante, a proudly Cape-made VSOP brandy. It’s described as a “well made Cape potstill brandy distilled from the finest quality wine, and blended in cognac style to provide something unique as a product”.
He also played a key role in handpicking 14 other initial investors who are past and present international rugby stars.
Smit is also well-known as a broadcast analyst for SuperSport, while he is a popular and sought-after guest speaker at various events.
He is also passionate about a number of philanthropic endeavours, which includes ‘Barney’s Army’, the affectionate name given to the John Smit Foundation, an organisation dedicated to aiding those in need.
Family man
Smit has been married to wife Roxanne for nearly 20 years, and they have three children.
His bio on Instagram reads as follows: “Used to play some rugby and now raising my three beautiful kids with my amazing wife!!!”