Everything you need to know about Kwagga Smith through his detailed biography

Everything you need to know about Kwagga Smith through his detailed biography

Lenah Ann
March 1, 2024 at 5:24 AM

Kwagga Smith is a famous South African-based rugby player who plays as a flanker for the Yamaha Júbilo in Japan and the South African national rugby team. He has made history as one of the nation's top flankers in recent years, and with his contribution on the pitch, he has won the hearts of many fans.

Kwagga Smith during the South Africa men's national rugby team media conference
Kwagga Smith during the South Africa men's national rugby team media conference on 26 September 2023 in La Seyne-Sur-Mer, France. Photo: Steve Haag (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

The Springboks star is famous for his speed, strong will and flexibility on the pitch. He has made a name for himself, bagging numerous awards and achievements, including the 2019 and the 2023 Rugby World Cup titles. Here is everything you need to know about Kwagga Smith, the renowned South African rugby player.

Kwagga Smith's profile summary

Full name

Albertus Stephanus Smith

Date of birth

11 June 1993

Age

30 (as of February 2024)

Place of birth

Lydenburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Nationality

South African

Ethnicity

White

Height

5 feet 11 inches or 180 centimetres

Weight

220 pounds or 100 kilograms

Hair colour

Brown

Eye colour

Dark brown

Parents

Marie and Willie

Relationship status

Married

Partner

Ilke de Haas

Education

Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg

Occupation

Professional rugby player

Position

Flanker

Current team

Yamaha Júbilo

Net worth

$1 million - $5 million

Social media

Instagram, X (Twitter)

Kwagga Smith's bio

The Springbok rugby player Kwagga Smith (age 30 as of February 2024) was born on 11 June 1993 in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa, to Marie and Willie.

He grew up on his grandparents' farm, and he had an elder brother nickname him Kwagga, meaning Zebra, when they were young. Due to his celebrity status, the nickname has since stuck. Kwagga Smith's real name is Albertus Stephanus Smith.

Albertus Stephanus Smith attended Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg in Mpumalanga, where he played rugby, and in doing so, he was included in the Pumas U18 team, which participated in the 2010 and 2011 Craven Week competitions.

Kwagga Smith passes the ball during the South Africa Springboks training session
Top 5 facts about Kwagga Smith. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images (Modified by author)
Source: Original

Kwagga Smith's career

After his school career, he joined the Golden Lions in Johannesburg. He participated in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship at the club and was among the Under-20 team at the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France.

Due to his incredible performance in the various competitions he participated in, he joined the South African Sevens team. At the end of 2013, he debuted on the international IRB Sevens World Series circuit during the 2013 South African Sevens.

In 2014, the famous rugby player was a Currie Cup Premier Division member and was in the Golden Lions starting line-up. In 2016, he was part of the 12-man team for the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.

In 2018, he signed with Japan's Yamaha Jubilo to play in their Top League during the 2018/19 campaign. Playing for his nation, he was part of the South African Seven squad that won the bronze and gold medals in the 2016 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, respectively.

Kwagga Smith's all-rugby stats

According to All.Rugby, the famous Springboks flanker has made 90 appearances in his career: 50 for his club and 40 for South Africa. He has 28 tries and 140 points, with 61 wins, 2 draws and 27 losses in all competitions.

Kwagga Smith's current team

Kwagga Smith celebrates winning the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Gold Final match against New Zealand
Kwagga Smith celebrates winning the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Gold Final match against New Zealand at Stade de France on 28 October 2023 in Paris, France. Photo: Paul Harding
Source: Getty Images

As of February 2024, the Springbok rugby player plays as a flanker for Yamaha Júbilo in Japan. He joined the club in July 2018 and has since been a force to be reckoned with. He has also played for the Golden Lions, the Lions, and the Golden Lions XV.

Latest news

The renowned Springbok Rugby World Cup winner has recently sustained an injury while playing in Japan. His injury has caused concern as he will be in danger of being sidelined in the coming tournaments. In a statement released by his club, he said,

I have been struggling with my thumb that, I need to go to get repaired, and I have to have a surgery, so I will be away for a while. Hopefully, I will not miss too many games and I will be back for the end of the season for a few games. So, I will do my best to recover as fast as possible.

Kwagga Smith's net worth

The South African flanker has amassed quite a fortune in his successful sporting career. According to various online sources such as People Ai and Celebs Age Wiki, he has an alleged net worth of between $1 million and $5 million as of February 2024.

Like most athletes, he primarily made most of his income through his club salary and South Africa Rugby Union salary, alongside brand endorsements and sponsorship deals.

 The professional rugby player poses with his wife, Ilke de Haas
The professional rugby player poses with his wife, Ilke de Haas. Photo: @kwaggasmith (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Frequently asked questions

Kwagga Smith's position on the rugby pitch has enabled him to thrive under pressure during significant events. His career path combines natural skills, unwavering hard work, and passion for the game. Here are some interesting insights about him.

What is Kwagga Smith's weight and height?

The Springbok World Cup winner weighs 220 pounds or 100 kilograms and is 5 feet 11 inches or 180 centimetres tall. He has brown hair and dark brown eyes.

Is Kwagga Smith on Instagram?

The renowned South African rugby player is a famous social media personality who has amassed numerous followers across various platforms. As of February 2024, he has over 78.7k followers on Instagram and over 9.9k on X (Twitter).

Who is the most famous South African rugby player?

The former Springboks legend Bryan Gary Habana is the most famous South African rugby player. He played mainly as a winger and went down in history as one of the greatest players in the sport's history.

Is Kwagga Smith married?

The renowned rugby star is married to Ilke de Haas. The dynamic duo met way back and started dating in April 2011. They have been together for over a decade and have been married for six years.

Kwagga and his wife tied the knot on 16 December 2017 in Bordeaux Game Farm, Marnitz, South Africa. As of February 2024, his wife's age is 28, and aside from being a marathoner, she is her husband's biggest supporter, as portrayed by her Instagram posts.

Final word

Over the years, Kwagga Smith has risen to become one of the best rugby players in the world. His promising career shows his ability to advance and succeed in rugby. As he continues to refine his talents and make meaningful contributions to his various clubs, there is no doubt that he will continue posting incredible performances.

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Authors
Lenah Ann photo
Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.