It seems almost a dream come true to pursue an opportunity to work with not one, but two sporting codes in the US. That however is exactly what North Harbour Professional Rugby Player Chris Smith is looking to do in two weeks as he leaves New Zealand and heads to the US to take up a role in the NFL Players Association’s legal team, and also to play rugby with D1 team Old Blue New York. I spoke to Chris this afternoon as he prepares to face this exciting new opportunity.
I asked Chris about his rugby career, and what had lead him to the move he is looking to undertake. “Since leaving school in 2005, I’ve played for [North] Harbour in the NPC [National Provincial Championship] and I think I’m on about 58 games which has been good. I had two years with the [Auckland] Blues [Super Rugby Franchise] but they were a couple of injury interrupted years but that was alright. I went to three Junior World Cups for New Zealand, the first Under 19 one in Dubai in 2006, and then I was Captain of the [New Zealand] Under 19’s in 2007 in Belfast, when we won it, then the next year of the Under 20’s in Wales when again we won it. These were awesome achievements, I’m still really proud of them.”
Looking at the move to North America Chris explains “While I’ve been playing professionally I was also studying law part time at the University of Auckland. I kept them both going together. I never stopped studying, so I was doing at least two papers a semester, although one year I managed a few more. It was quite a long journey at that slow pace, but I finished my Honours dissertation at the end of 2012, then graduated in May 2013 and was admitted to the Bar in December last year.”
“I was aware of a Visa that’s available to get to the States for recent graduates, through a friend that went there. Before last year’s ITM Cup started in the second half of 2013, and while I was completing my professionals, I helped out the New Zealand Rugby Players Association with their collective negotiations with New Zealand Rugby. The dissertation I’d written for my honours degree was on collective bargaining, and naturally I was a member of the association too, so the two seemed to work together well. One day at the office I mentioned to Rob [Nichol, CEO of the Players Association] that there was this visa you could get up to the States, and did he know anyone up there.
Rob mentioned he’d been at a conference and met Ira Fishman, Chief Operating Officer of the NFL Players Association. They made contact, and the next thing you know I’m hopping up on February 6 to work in their legal department for 6 months.”
“It’s exciting, the NFL is one of the biggest professional sporting organisations in the world. The New Zealand Rugby Players Association has four full time employees, the NFLPA has well over one hundred. It’s two different kettles of fish…exposure to the different legal system, and the fact that it’s the NFL, they’re so professional and it’s totally different from rugby, it’s going to be amazing.”
Along with the opportunity to work with the NFLPA, Chris also has the opportunity to work with Old Blue New York, teaming up with fellow Takapuna alumni Marty Veale. “I knew Marty as we had played against each other a few times, and also had a few mutual friends out of the Takapuna club. We’re both Takapuna men, so we got in touch. A couple of months ago I hadn’t even really considered going up there and playing. I was thinking about maybe coaching in the DC area, I definitely wanted to get involved with the game where I could. But I got talking to Marty and he said there was an opportunity to play at Old Blue, where I could play at a great club and meet some new people in the US. That sounded pretty good to me, so we’ve been talking and figuring out how we can make it work. At this point it’s looking pretty positive, hopefully I’ll be able to play some good rugby for the Old Blue club on the weekends, and work for the NFLPA during the week.”
“I’m still unsure what exactly the environment will be like and I won’t know that for sure until I get there, but in an ideal world that would be the plan, to work for the legal team of the NFLPA Monday to Friday and then playing for Old Blue on the Saturday.”
The role that Chris is working with the NFLPA is somewhat open ended so the opportunity may extend beyond the current scope of around six months. As Chris points out “The Visa has a maximum time frame of 12 months, and a lot can happen in that time frame.” The NFL being the organization it is has massive potential, and rugby in the USA has a similar opportunity for growth. One thing is certain, this is a great opportunity for Chris to show on the world stage that New Zealand has a great depth of talent both on the sports field and off “The more I get put in touch with people, and the more people I meet, it’s really exciting. I’m really looking forward to getting up there and to see what happens.”
I’d like to thank Chris for his time today, and for sharing his journey with me.
Thanks for reading, you can follow me on Twitter @lastwordkyle. Give the site a follow while you’re at it – @lastwordonsport and please take a moment to like our Facebook Page.
LastWordOnSports is looking to expand its Rugby coverage, both in its international coverage as well as domestic competitions. If you are interested in joining the expanding Rugby department, please see our “Write For Us” page.
Photo Credit: http://images.tvnz.co.nz
