Family – and Shipston RFC – tell of their pride after Northampton Saints’ Fin Smith makes his England debut
THERE was a special moment on Saturday when Warwickshire’s Fin Smith made his England rugby debut in Rome with his proud family watching from the stands.
Fly-half Fin, who started playing rugby with Shipston RFC when he was just four years old, came on as a replacement for George Ford in the 66th minute as England won 27-24 against Italy in the Six Nations.
His father, Andrew Smith, a partner at Shakespeare Martineau lawyers in Stratford, said it was an exciting and nervous moment watching his 21-year-old son take to the field – especially as the clock was ticking down and they weren’t sure if Fin’s international debut was going to materialise.
“We’re really proud of Fin’s achievements, but Saturday was extra special,” said Andrew, who happily admits his rugby loyalties usually reside north of the border.
“I did play a bit of rugby, but I don’t think Fin gets his rugby genes from me – my wife Judith’s dad [Tom Elliot] was a Scotland international and was on a Lions’ tour.”
Fin, with his family history covered in the Scottish blue, could have chosen to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps but opted for the Auld Enemy.
“He was born [in England], was raised here and all his friends are here, so he chose England,” said Andrew.
Fin, who went to primary school in Barford, started playing rugby at Shipston after tagging along with his older brother Angus. Apart from a break to concentrate on tennis, rugby has been Fin’s sport and he excelled in the game at Warwick School, where he was part of a team regularly in the finals of national competitions.
He won a place in the development programme at Worcester Warriors and by the time he was in his final year at sixth-form, he was signing a contract with the senior academy.
“He has always been a talented player, but when he got to Worcester Warriors I think that’s when he realised he could make a career out of rugby,” Andrew told the Herald.
Fin made his Warriors debut at the age of 18 – the second youngest player to turn out for the first team – and went onto play 31 times for them before the club folded.
A switch to Northampton Saints has seen Fin get another 30 professional games under his belt and put 270 points on the scoreboard.
His family have followed his playing career up and down the country, although Andrew admits that during the early years it was Judith who had to do most of the ferrying around.
Andrew, Judith and Angus were in Rome at the weekend – a quickly arranged trip as Fin only found out his was in the squad a few days before.
“We were all in tears at some point,” said Andrew.
He added that the England rugby family – the parents and partners of the other players and staff – were wonderfully welcoming and most had been experienced the situation – that first “very special” cap – themselves.
It was also an exciting moment for Shipston RFC as Fin is the club’s first international player – the club wrote to the family to express how proud they are (they also beat Stratford in the local derby on Saturday, so a good weekend for the Rams).
Chairman Andrew Powell told the Herald he helped coach Fin, possibly from the very first day he turned up for training with another four-year-old, George Hendy who is a teammate of Fin’s at Northampton.
“For Fin to get his England debut on Saturday was quite a week for Shipston,” he said. “We were excited and staunchly proud. He was cut above a lot of the kids that were playing at the time.”
Andrew hopes to get both Fin and George back to the club together – they do pop back to help with coaching and provide a bit of inspiration to the next generation. There are also hopes of getting one of Fin’s England shirts on the clubhouse wall.
So how did Fin feel after stepping out in the white of England, a first game and a first victory to add to his CV? “He was buzzing,” said his dad. “He and the other players did a lap of the ground after the game and Fin was looking for us in the stands. When he saw us he had a beaming smile.”
Fin’s next appearance could be at Twickenham on Saturday (10th February) when England host Wales. However, for the Smiths things get even more heated on 24th February when England visit Scotland. Where will Andrew’s loyalties lie?
“We will always be proud Scots but we are proud parents to Fin,” he said, diplomatically.