Conrad (Snakey) was admired not for sheer brute force, but for his tactical intellect, positional awareness, and consistency.
He had a remarkable ability to read the game, create opportunities for others, and anchor defensive systems — often acting as the “glue” in high-performance backlines.
Conrad played for the All Blacks (94 apps) from 2004 to 2015, becoming one of the most-capped backs in All Blacks history. He was a key member of the All Blacks teams that won back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015.
He is a Hurricanes legend (126 apps), captaining the franchise and forming a legendary midfield partnership with Ma’a Nonu.
After retiring from All Blacks rugby, Smith played for Pau in France’s Top 14 until his retirement in 2018.
