Johnny Smith (rugby union)

John Smith

Smith in 1949
Birth name	John Burns Smith
Date of birth	(1922-09-25)25 September 1922
Place of birth	Kaikohe, New Zealand
Date of death	3 December 1974(1974-12-03) (aged 52)
Place of death	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	79 kg (174 lb; 12 st 6 lb)
School	Kaikohe District High School
Notable relative(s)	Peter Smith (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Kaikohe () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1946–54 North Auckland 41 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1946–49 New Zealand 4 (6)

John Burns Smith (26 September 1922 – 3 December 1974) was a New Zealand rugby union player, soldier, sportsman and baker. He was an All Black captain, and despite only playing nine matches (including four tests) is recognised as a great. His 26 appearances for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force rugby team (known as the Kiwis), which toured the UK in 1946–47, earned him high praise.^[1] He also played for the New Zealand Māori, being of Ngāpuhi descent.