Fin Smith
Smith representing Northampton Saints during the Gallagher Premiership
Full nameFinlay Smith
Date of birth (2002-05-11) 11 May 2002 (age 21)
Place of birthWarwick, England
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight87 kg (192 lb; 13 st 10 lb)
SchoolWarwick School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Northampton Saints
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021–2022 Worcester Warriors 31 (120)
2021 Ampthill 4 (13)
2022– Northampton Saints 30 (270)
Correct as of 19 January 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021–2022 England U20 10 (52)
2024– England 2 (0)
Correct as of 19 January 2024

Finlay Smith (born 11 May 2002) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Northampton Saints and the England national team.[1][2]

Club career

Smith started playing rugby at local club Shipston-on-Stour and Warwick School prior to joining the Worcester Warriors academy.[3] At 18 years and 292 days, Smith became only the second 18-year-old to play for Warriors in the top flight when he made his debut as a replacement against Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm on 27 February 2021.[3]

Smith started for the Warriors side that beat London Irish in the final of the 2022 Premiership Rugby Cup to win Worcester their first ever top-flight trophy.[4]

On 5 October 2022, all Worcester Warriors players' contracts were terminated due to liquidation of the company to which they were contracted. Smith joined Northampton Saints with immediate effect shortly after.[5]

International career

Smith was selected for the England under-20 team to compete in the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and contributed significantly, starting in four out of five games and scoring a try against Scotland.[6] England won the tournament and achieved a grand slam.[7][8] In July 2022 Smith represented the England U20 team during a summer series of games in Italy.[9]

Smith is the grandson of former Scotland and Lions prop Tom Elliot making him also eligible to represent Scotland.[10][11][12]

In January 2024 he was called up by Steve Borthwick to the senior England squad for the 2024 Six Nations Championship and made his debut coming off the bench in a win against Italy.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Fin Smith". ESPN. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  2. ^ Schofield, Daniel; Morgan, Charlie (7 June 2022). "Scotland plan raid for England Under-20 fly-half Fin Smith". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Worcester Warriors | Opportunity knocks for Fin Smith". Worcester Warriors. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  4. ^ Peddy, Chris (17 May 2022). "London Irish 25-25 Worcester Warriors: Worcester win Premiership Rugby Cup with most tries after extra time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Fin Smith to join Northampton Saints". Northampton Saints. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  6. ^ Barnes, David (25 June 2021). "Christian Townsend and Ollie Leatherbarrow among the tries but Scotland Under-20 lose to England". The Scotsman. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  7. ^ "England hold off Italian comeback to wrap up Six Nations U20 Grand Slam". World Rugby. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  8. ^ "England Under-20s 27-17 Italy Under-20s: England win Grand Slam in Cardiff". BBC Sport. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  9. ^ O'Sullivan, John (5 July 2022). "Sam Prendergast kicks Ireland under-20s to last ditch victory over England in Verona". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Worcester Warriors Player Profile | Fin Smith". Worcester Warriors. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  11. ^ McGeechan, Ian (26 December 2021). "Sir Ian McGeechan: These are the English youngsters who could become the stars of 2022". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  12. ^ "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  13. ^ "England Six Nations squad: Billy Vunipola, Jonny May & Jack Nowell left out by Steve Borthwick". BBC. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.

External links

Northampton Saints – current squad
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