Dr Smith yesterday told Labour's Ms Curran to go away and change her clothes, saying she had breached the dress code.
The Dunedin South MP had come in wearing the Highlanders' old blue and yellow jersey -- a protest against the lime green jersey the team is going to wear next season.
"It is not appropriate, unless the Speaker's permission is sought, to advertise sports teams in this chamber -- nothing is allowed to be advertised in this chamber," he said.
"If a male member of this House came in wearing a soccer top or a rugby top they would be asked to leave."
Dr Smith said the rule was that women MPs had to wear "normal business attire".
He had to tell Ms Curran twice to leave before she walked out, supported by Greens co-leader Metiria Turei who left with her, saying: "It's crap."
Ms Curran later said she wasn't sure what the dress code was, and she had been doing what she was paid to do.
"I am a Member of Parliament, I represent my constituents, a very large number of Dunedin people don't like the fact that the brand for the Highlanders has changed and so I'm sticking up for them."
Another Green Party MP, Sue Kedgley, also questioned the dress code.
"Does that mean we're allowed to wear a cardigan, a dress? Do we have to wear a jacket and tie, I have absolutely no idea," she told TV3 News.
"I intend to write to the Speaker to clarify."
MPs backing Ms Curran raised what they said were precedents for wearing sports gear in the chamber, saying National MP Jackie Blue had worn an All Whites T-shirt and Labour's Ross Robertson often came in with rugby scarves round his neck.
National MP Tau Henare backed Dr Smith.
"If I went in there wearing a St George rugby league jersey I'd get kicked out too...what's good for us is good for them," he said.
Labour's veteran MP Trevor Mallard said Dr Smith's ruling was a step towards equality.
"We've had in the past Ruth Richardson regularly in this House in a tracksuit, and that was something which was allowed because I think when the original rules were developed it wasn't contemplated that there would be women Members of Parliament," he said.
Mr Mallard asked Dr Smith to look carefully at the issue, given that some MPs wore ties and badges supporting sports teams.
Dr Smith said he had no objection to that but wanted MPs to use their discretion.
He said standards had been updated since Ms Richardson was an MP and women were now expected to wear business attire.
