Born: August 16, 1955 - Tokoroa
Test record: 12 Tests (1975, 1977-79) - 3 tries (9 points)
Tours: 1975 World Championship Series, 1977 World Cup, 1978 tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea
Versatile Te Atatu back John Smith played 12 Tests for the Kiwis during the second half of the 1970s.
Three days shy of his 19th birthday when he played five-eighth for Auckland in a win over Great Britain in 1974, Smith went to the inaugural Pacific Cup with New Zealand MΔori and represented his province against Australia in 1975, before taking his place in the New Zealand squad for the second half of the World Championship Series.
Smith debuted off the bench against Australia, featured in the centres against France and England - scoring a try against the latter - and switched to halfback for the narrow loss to Wales.
After playing for New Zealand XIII against Combined Sydney in 1976 (the Kiwis had no matches scheduled that year), Smith was the Kiwis' halfback throughout the 1977 World Cup and scored tries in the tournament-opening loss to Australia and their win over France. He was also a key part of Auckland's 'grand slam' feat in beating each of New Zealand's World Cup opponents and was named New Zealand's Player of the Year.
Smith lined up at five-eighth for all three Tests against Australia in 1978 and at centre in the historic clash with Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby. He couldn't hold a place in a new-look backline for the 1979 home series against Great Britain, but he came off the bench in the 18-11 third Test victory at Carlaw Park.
He represented New Zealand MΔori and Auckland against Australia in 1980.