Smart heads home

Rugby

Canterbury have said goodbye to a popular member of their first team squad. Scrum-half Dan Smart, a consistent performer for the Black and Ambers over the past six years, is returning to New Zealand.

The 28-year-old, who joined Canterbury in 2014, has won England international and

Kent county honours during a successful spell at the Marine Travel Ground

Smart, a Kiwi, qualified for England recognition through an English mother.

He was an important member of the Canterbury side which won promotion to National League 1 for the first time in the club’s history last season. The club clinched their place in rugby’s third tier with Smart one of the try scorers in a 19-10 play-off victory over Chester in May.

Canterbury head of rugby Andy Pratt admitted Smart will be much missed. He added: “Dan has made a huge contribution in his time at Canterbury. “He has played over 150 games for the club and played an integral role in our promotion winning season last year. “Off the field he coached the women’s squad for many seasons and supported many youth teams and players. “Intending to stay only a couple of years, he returns home with a degree from Christ Church University, an England Counties cap (against Georgia) and, I am sure, many wonderful memories.

“I am disappointed that the current coronavirus situation has meant we could not give him the farewell we would like. “However, Dan will always be welcome at the club.” that competitive spirit going. She said: “I want to keep people motivated, keep them healthy and hopefully the lockdown doesn’t get any worse so we can’t run. “We are sticking to the guidelines, we know how serious this is. We can have a run, a mile in seven or eight minutes, then that is our exercise done.

“People don’t have to the Don Thompson mile, any flat course will do, but we can compare our times and post what we do. If I am behind someone I am excited to try and beat them the next week. I’m hoping to beat Caroline and it has become really popular.

“Some of the runners are out at 6am because they are still working, we have key workers and others with kids. I’ve run every day and I haven’t met one of our members. We are just doing it when we can but still following a structure. Club runners want structure, something to follow and a purpose.

“Every weekend we would usually have members racing somewhere, whether that’s a 10k, or a half marathon, or whatever it is, they are always training for that next race. Doing things like the mile gives them a purpose.”