A Tribute dinner will be hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre in the Pavilion Room on the 26th June 2012 at 18h30 to launch John Smit’s Foundation – Barney’s Army, and to pay tribute to a great Ambassador of Sport to our Country.
Barney’s Army is a non-profit organization that aims to provide bursaries to disadvantaged school learners. A portion of the proceeds from the evening will be handed to 3 charities that John holds closest to his heart:
- Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Fund
- Liv Foundation
- Bobbi Bear
The evening will be attended by many local and International celebrities from various sporting codes, and many high profile Corporates, who have over the years supported John in his Captaincy of the Springboks.
John’s participation as a member of the 2003 World Cup squad marked his successful return from a lengthy layoff caused by a recurring shoulder injury. After playing his last international at the end of 2001, Smit was involved in the Springbok rehabilitation programme in 2003 and made his return from the bench in the Boks’ opening clash of the World Cup against Uruguay in Perth.
He has played most of his career as a hooker, playing prop twice for the Springboks off the bench, prior to the South Africa coaching staff’s decision to use him as a tighthead prop for the 2008 end of year Tests. In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, he started in 6 out of the 7 South African matches, in which his leadership qualities came to the fore, as his calm under pressure and inspirational captaincy saw South Africa win the William Web Ellis Trophy for the second time.
In 2008 he surpassed prop Os du Randt as the most-capped forward in Springboks history. Smit was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame on 24 October 2011, alongside all other Rugby World Cup-winning captains and head coaches from the tournament's inception in 1987 through 2007
