The FDMC Foundation
  • What's Going On?
  • The Old Boys' Blog
  • The Foundation
    • Foundation Goals
    • Become a Foundation Member
    • Foundation Projects
    • Funding The Future
  • FDMC History
    • The Early History
    • Father Francis Vernon Douglas
    • De La Salle Brothers
    • The Brothers at FDMC
  • Photo Galleries
    • Photos From The Early Days
    • 1960's Photos
    • 1970's Photos
    • 1980's Photos
    • 1990's Photos
    • 2000's Photos
    • College Captains
    • FDMC From The Air
    • 50th Jubilee Photos
    • Photos From the 60th Gathering
    • Sports Photos >
      • The NPBHS Game
      • 1st XV Photos 1959 - 1979
      • 1st XV Photos 1980-1999
      • 1st XV Photos 2000-2019
      • 1st XI Photos
      • Athletics Sports
      • Swimming Sports
    • Activities Photos
  • Old Boys Directory
    • Registered Old Boys
    • Doctor Who?
    • Past Student Directory
    • Past Staff Directory
  • College Magazines
    • 1960's Magazines
    • 1970's Magazines
    • 1980's Magazines
    • 1990's Magazines
    • 2000's Magazines
    • 2010's Magazines
  • On Reflection
    • Staff Reflections >
      • Our Foyer Painting
      • Graham Blanks
      • Graeme Mustchin
    • Student Reflections
  • College Culture
  • What's Going On?
  • The Old Boys' Blog
  • The Foundation
    • Foundation Goals
    • Become a Foundation Member
    • Foundation Projects
    • Funding The Future
  • FDMC History
    • The Early History
    • Father Francis Vernon Douglas
    • De La Salle Brothers
    • The Brothers at FDMC
  • Photo Galleries
    • Photos From The Early Days
    • 1960's Photos
    • 1970's Photos
    • 1980's Photos
    • 1990's Photos
    • 2000's Photos
    • College Captains
    • FDMC From The Air
    • 50th Jubilee Photos
    • Photos From the 60th Gathering
    • Sports Photos >
      • The NPBHS Game
      • 1st XV Photos 1959 - 1979
      • 1st XV Photos 1980-1999
      • 1st XV Photos 2000-2019
      • 1st XI Photos
      • Athletics Sports
      • Swimming Sports
    • Activities Photos
  • Old Boys Directory
    • Registered Old Boys
    • Doctor Who?
    • Past Student Directory
    • Past Staff Directory
  • College Magazines
    • 1960's Magazines
    • 1970's Magazines
    • 1980's Magazines
    • 1990's Magazines
    • 2000's Magazines
    • 2010's Magazines
  • On Reflection
    • Staff Reflections >
      • Our Foyer Painting
      • Graham Blanks
      • Graeme Mustchin
    • Student Reflections
  • College Culture
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

The Old Boys' Blog

3/16/2014 0 Comments

100 Good Ones

Picture
Tony Robson wrote one of the best articles we have so fat read about old boy Conrad Smith, as a lead up to his 100th Super Rugby Game on friday night. Some of the article is below, the rest you can read here.

Conrad Smith's been working his unconventional angles from the start.

At Francis Douglas Memorial College Smith's mates remember him as an all-rounder, a debater of note, runner-up dux and a wily halfback with a competitive streak in everything he did.

On the cricket field he dreamed of being a lusty hitter like Chris Cairns, but former classmate Brendon Hart says a ''skinny Rod Latham'' was closer to the truth.

''As a cricketer in the first XI I would describe Conrad as slow, too enthusiastic,'' Hart said this week with a laugh. ''The late cut was his only shot. He would just sit back and play it to third man, every ball.''

Smith's father, Trevor, represented Taranaki in cricket and reminded his son recently that his favoured shot was a product of the family hallway where his go-to shot was into an adjacent room at point during marathon matches against his brother, Nathan.

It's a quirky story that says a lot about a bloke whose ability to out-think rather than outmuscle his opponents has been a feature of a storied rugby career that will chalk up another milestone at Westpac Stadium today.

Smith will become the sixth man to make 100 appearances for the Hurricanes in a journey that doesn't fit the modern rugby cliche.

Hart said Smith had always been small, a first five-eighth who ended up playing halfback in the 1999 first XV.

''These days he's deceptively big, but he wasn't in those days,'' Hart recalled of his former college team-mate. ''I always remember he wanted to play second five-eighth, centre. His flatmates and friends at Uni in Wellington, guys such as Michael Barnes and Scott Ireland, were all playing premiers straight away, but Conrad wanted to play in the midfield and I don't think he ever considered the thought of going back to halfback. 

''The thing with Conrad is he wasn't really playing rugby because he wanted to go anywhere, it was because he enjoyed it and he enjoyed that position.''

At Smith's wedding last year there were a noticeable lack of rugby stars in attendance and Hart said that was because he'd never let the sport become his sole focus.

''What's pretty cool about him is he's not a system child. He came through the ranks, he's a lawyer, a lot of his good friends aren't footy players. He puts a massive effort into catching up with all his friends and family,'' Hart said.

A ''decent sized'' group of his former classmates and close friends will make the road trip down from Taranaki for today's match and Hart said Smith wouldn't hesitate to do the same if the tables were turned.

''It's pretty awesome. He gives up a lot of his time for various things and people and he's always forthcoming. I know if Francis Douglas ever needed him for anything he would bus there to try and do it.

''He actually loves the game. That's why he does it week in week out and why he stays at the Hurricanes regardless of whether it's a losing side. He puts everything into it. I don't think he has ever had the passion to play for anyone else and he's the same with OBU.''


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.


    FDMC Foundation Facebook Page
    FDMC CricHQ Site

    Picture

    An Old Boy's Card

    Picture
    Picture
    Want us to display your business card? Email it to us here.




    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

    RSS Feed

    Author

    The FDMC Foundation exists to keep old boys aware of their old school and give them the chance to stay connected.

Picture
The FDMC Foundation
C/O Francis Douglas Memorial College
201 Tukapa Street
​New Plymouth
FDMC College Website
De La Salle Schools NZ