Factory worker training with All Blacks
DECLAN Smith was part of the same Wales U20 squad as Dillon Lewis and Owen Watkin but while they are dreaming of World Cup glory, Smith’s life has been turned upside down by Project Reset.
The 21-year-old scrumhalf sealed a junior Six Nations Grand Slam in 2016 but while his teammates have progressed to become full international stars, for Smith it’s a different story.
After being released by the Scarlets earlier this year he found himself working in a factory in New Zealand but he is now on the rugby comeback trail.
“I was with the Scarlets from the age of 16,” Smith told The Rugby Paper. “My contract was running out and I got told three weeks before it ended that I wasn’t going to be re-signed. It was down to things like Project Reset.
“My agent had to try and figure something out but I struggled to find a club in the UK or in Europe in three weeks.
“I put myself into a position where I didn’t really want to feel sorry for myself so I put myself out there and had a look around.
“An agent from New Zealand got in touch and it was a matter of playing club rugby for Stoke in Nelson on the South Island for three months.
“I didn’t get paid to play for them. It was a situation where I had nothing and I just thought I’m not going to sulk but try and put myself in the shop window.
“I wanted to play club rugby, enjoy myself, and see whether I could get myself back to where I was. I worked in a factory while I was playing for Stoke which wasn’t ideal, but I had to get on with it and I came to New Zealand to enjoy the lifestyle and experience more than anything.”
After impressing at club level in Nelson, Smith caught the attention of Tasman head coach Andrew Goodman who invited him into training.
He has since been offered a contract to play in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Just a few short months ago Smith, from Kidwelly, was contemplating a life away from professional rugby yet last weekend he was lining up alongside senior All Blacks Shannon Frizell, Liam Squire and David Havili.
Smith hopes it can help him continue his rugby resurgence. He said: “Since I came into camp with Tasman I’ve had a really warm welcome. It’s been pretty easy to get involved with and it has made me fall back in love with rugby.
“To now be playing with and against some big name All Blacks is very surreal. I never expected it to happen. I didn’t realise how big the Mitre 10 Cup competition is out here.
“I really don’t want to start shouting about what I want to be doing this time next year because as I’ve found out recently things can change very quickly.
“I suppose playing in Super Rugby would be awesome, but there is so much quality in New Zealand it would be hard to do that.
“Going back to a Welsh region could be an option in the future, but I’m just enjoying my time in New Zealand and most importantly I’ve fallen back in love with the game.”