Rugby: Smith signs for another four years

Aaron Smith
Aaron Smith
Aaron Smith might be arguably the No 1 halfback in the world but he is not resting on his laurels.

Smith, who confirmed yesterday he was staying with New Zealand and Highlanders rugby for four more years, has been keeping busy ahead of Sunday's World Cup squad announcement by sticking to his pre-tournament fitness programmes.

With halfbacks like TJ Perenara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Brad Weber keeping him honest, Smith aims to be on the field as long as possible, which becomes easier as the season goes on - injuries notwithstanding.

''At the start of the season, the games are very fast and everyone's as fit as possible,'' he said.`It's about monitoring it as well - the Highlanders are really good at monitoring me during the year. I know I had to have two games off, but every time we got a good lead, they were good to get me off and save my legs. I'm not as fresh and young as I used to be.

''As you get older, you learn a few tricks. My eating's a lot better now and I hold my weight - it's all those little things that add to how you perform.''

Smith's immediate focus is the World Cup squad announcement in Wellington on Sunday. He is a lock for one of the halfback spots, regardless of whether the selectors opt to take two or three halfbacks, but naturally he doesn't see it that way.

''I've just been trying to keep busy with the programme and doing each day the best that I can. Our programmes at the moment are very tough and pretty gruelling, but it's easy motivation working for something that you really want.

''I just want to hear my name and I'll be very happy.''

Smith deflected suggestions about following in Jarryd Hayne's footsteps with a tilt at the NFL - ''Have you seen how big I am?'' - and the lure of Olympic gold through the sevens programme also never really entered his mind.

''I really enjoyed what we did with the Highlanders this year and what I heard was to leave the Highlanders and maybe a playoff situation would just be too tough,'' Smith said.

''I also heard about Gordon Tietjens' regimes of fitness - I work pretty hard to play fifteens and I don't know if I could do it now. We've got plenty of players out there, and it wasn't a big choice for me.''

Smith said the attraction of the British and Irish Lions tour in 2017 was just one factor which contributed to him signing a fresh contract to stay in New Zealand.

''It was definitely part of my vision of setting new goals about what I wanted to do when I signed this deal,'' Smith said.

''The British and Irish Lions was a big drawcard and the next World Cup [in 2019] would be just something to really think about. That was really exciting at the time when I thought about it. I had actually signed through to my last set of contracts but this new deal was just too good.''

Don't be surprised to see Smith commit once more to New Zealand rugby if he is still fighting fit in 2019, either.

''As long as they want to keep having me, I'll stay, I think.''

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