Nicky Smith

Nicky Smith is another Waunarlwydd RFC product, along with Liam Williams, and he also learned his rugby at Pentrehafod Comprehensive School and Gower College. He then moved into the Ospreys Academy and played for Wales Under 18 and 20.

He made 31 appearances for Swansea in the Welsh Premiership and also played a few times for Aberavon. His form at semi-professional level was enough to earn him a call-up to the Wales U20 squad, where he won 15 caps over two years. He broke into the senior Ospreys squad in 2012 before making his international debut as a replacement in a home win against Fiji in November, 2014.

A week later he came on for the final seven minutes against New Zealand, but lasted only three minutes before tearing a pectoral muscle that kept him out of action for four months. His next appearance in a Welsh shirt, and his first start, came in the World Cup warm-up feat to Ireland in Cardiff, but he didn’t make the squad for the tournament.

He was back for the 2016 Autumn Series, playing a part in the wins over Argentina, Japan and South Africa, and went on to make his Six Nations debut from the start of the win over Italy in Rome on 5 February, 2017. He was a replacement for the four other fixtures in that championship. He played in all five wins on the 2017 and 2018 summer tours and played in 12 of the 14 match unbeaten series between 2018-19, including four outings, and one start, in the 2019 Grand Slam campaign.

Initally missing out on selection for the 2021 Six Nations, he joined the squad prior to the fourth round clash against Italy after Ospreys teammate Rhodri Jones was released due to a calf injury suffered at training.