Ben Smith may have announced that he was initially retiring from the world of rugby in 2021, but it would seem that the lure of the rugby pitch was too much for him. Japanese club Kobe Steelers has announced that he will be returning to join them in spite of his December retirement.
Smith as a Player
Smith is one of the most legendary players amongst the All Blacks and it is fantastic to see him return to the pitch. The All Blacks are one of the most formidable rugby teams in the world, often appearing with odds in their favour at sites like the Mr Green online casino platform, and it is players like Smith who have helped them earn their well deserved winning reputation.
He made his international debut for New Zealand back in 2009 and then went on to play 84 tests for them up until the World Cup in 2019. During this time, he also served as part of the team who won the 2015 World Cup. He also served as the vice-captain of the All Blacks from 2016 and 2017, and one match captaining against Samoa in 2017.
This definitely helped to cement his reputation as one of the legends of the All-Blacks. With 39 tries behind him in his international career, it is clear that he is a powerful player who still has a lot to offer.
Coming Out of Retirement
Smith initially announced his retirement from rugby in December of 2021. For him to return to the sport less than 6 months later is maybe an indicator that he was not as ready for retirement as he may be thought he would be. Though he is 35, on the upper age range for a rugby player certainly, it is obvious that he still has a lot to offer.
He is just one of many players who are taking the plunge and coming out of retirement to continue playing. The fact that he is going to a top team in Japan also indicates that the sport as a whole still believes that he has plenty to offer.
What This Means for the Kobe Steelers
The Kobe Steelers are one of the top teams in Japan at the moment. They were the first Top League champions, the highest level of competitive rugby within Japan, and they have often made the playoffs in this competition.
Smith is in good company at the Steelers. This team has several other Kiwi players, including his All Blacks teammates Tom Franklin, the Steelers current captain, and Aaron Cruden amongst others. The league itself is also home to plenty of other Kiwi players, such as Beauden Barrett.
Smith is a powerful outside back but he can also play as a centre and halfback if needed. His ability to switch back and forth between different positions could prove to be crucial in the Steelers’ coming season. Though he might be one of the older players on the team, he definitely should not be discounted.
Smith’s return to rugby is no doubt one that will cause a lot of interest among fans. With a return to domestic competition in Japan, is there a chance that we could also see him return to the All Blacks side at some point in the future? With so much talent on the national team, this is something that seems a little unlikely, but we can simply never tell. It will be interesting to see how he fares having come out of what was supposed to be a retirement. Hopefully, this will prove to be the right choice for him as he returns to the game once more.
