6ft 8in tall lock, George Smith, teamed up with Northampton Saints in the final months of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership title-winning season, having arrived from the NFL Player Pathway programme in the USA.
Smith has taken an unusual route into the top flight, having played for Frampton Cotterell RFC in South Gloucestershire from Under-9s until Colts before joining Bristol-based Old Redcliffians, who played in the fifth tier of English rugby.
Smith stepped up into the second tier of English rugby with Coventry ahead of the 2022/23 season and extended his stay into the 2023/24 campaign.
However, in January this year, Smith decided to enter the NFL’s International Player Pathway programme at the same time as former Saintsman Harry Mallinder. But during his time in America, he was approached by Saints and teamed up with the squad in late April of the 2023/24 season.
