Smith named Premiership player of the month

Tue, Mar 8, 2016, 9:00 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman

Wallabies veteran George Smith is the Aviva Premiership February Man.

Smith was named the Player of the Month for February in the top UK competition, after playing a starring role for the fourth-placed Wasps.

Smith has been a standout for London’s wasps since joining the cub at the start of the season, regularly leading the way in defence particularly.

Over the four Wasps’ games in February, Smith racked up 38 tackles, despite coming off the bench in one of those games.

The London side had a 3-1 record over the month, with wins over Harlequins (42-10),  Newcastle (9-8) and Bath (24-18) but a loss to Saracens (64-23).

It was arguably one of the quieter periods Smith has had since joining the Premiership side, a recruitment that has proven a marvel for Wasps.

The 35-year-old joins Nathan Hughes as one of two Wasps players to win the monthly gong so far this season.

Hughes was November’s winner, while Harlequins’ Nick Evans, Saracens’ Marco Itoje and Exeter’s Thomas Waldrom round out the 2015-16 winners so far.

The premiership player of the month is voted on by nine English Rugby experts, with a fan component included as well.

Wasps face third-placed Leicester this weekend, in what is shaping up as one of the highlights of the weekend.

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