Club career
2019
Smith was named in Brisbane City's 33-man squad for the 2019 National Rugby Championship season on 26 August. [8] [9] He made his NRC debut in the opening round on 31 August, at GPS Rugby Club. [10] [11] A late try for Smith’s side secured a thrilling 22–22 draw against the defending NRC champions, Fijian Drua. [12]
In the 73rd minute of Brisbane City’s Round 4 clash, Smith capitalised on an opposition error near his own try line, following an attacking move initiated by NSW Country winger Mark Nawaqanitawase. He broke through the defence, sprinted to the halfway line, and linked with the outside backs to put City ahead 24–5 with less than 10 minutes remaining. [13] The try was shortlisted among the top five for 2019 NRC Try of the Year. [14]
City were unable to defend the Andy Purcell Cup in a 42–26 loss to Queensland Country on 28 September. [15] In the 18th minute of his derby debut, Smith received his first and only NRC yellow card. [16]
Smith enjoyed a successful season, with his side finishing fourth overall and advancing to the NRC finals. [17] The team was eliminated in the semi-final on 19 October, losing 42–38 to the Western Force. [18] This marked Smith’s final appearance for Brisbane City. [19]
2020
Smith first featured for the Reds during a 28–19 pre-season trial victory over the Waratahs in Dalby on 24 January. [20] He then moved down to the Brumbies for an opportunity to train with the club, joining them in early February. Smith was rewarded with a start at lock in the Brumbies Runners trial match against Waratahs A on 21 February in Daceyville. [21] He made another start on 6 March against Rebels A at Harlequin Rugby Club. [22]
The lock returned to Queensland in April and received a call-up to the Reds' Super Rugby squad in May 2020, as the team prepared for the domestic Super Rugby AU competition following the COVID-19 disruption. [23] He was first listed in a Reds 23-man match-day squad on the bench for a potential debut against the Force on 17 July, but never made it onto the field. [24] [25] On 7 December it was announced that Smith had signed with the Reds in a deal that would see him remain at Ballymore until 2022. [26]
2021
Smith made his Super Rugby debut in Round 1 on 19 February, defeating the Waratahs 41–7 at Suncorp Stadium. He entered the match as a 68th minute substitute wearing jersey No. 19 and became Queensland Reds player #1357. [27] Smith made his Super Rugby starting debut at lock in Round 6 against the Waratahs on 27 March. [28]
The Reds ended their ten-year championship drought and claimed the 2021 Super Rugby AU title on 8 May. [29] Smith started at lock [30] in the come-from-behind, 19–16 grand final victory over the Brumbies. At Queensland’s end of season awards lunch held at Sirromet winery, Mount Cotton on 18 July, Smith was named Rookie of the Year. [31]
2022
Smith scored his maiden Super Rugby try on 25 February, as Queensland claimed the Bob Templeton Cup in a rain-soaked match against the Waratahs. The try proved to be the Round 2 match-winner, with the Reds holding on to win 20–16, at Leichhardt Oval. [32]
Smith's first career try at home came after a 17-phase attack. [33] He bounced out of an attempted tackle by Josh Dickson, was not held, and got back to his feet to score — putting the Reds ahead 19–13. [34] It wasn’t enough, however, as the Highlanders came back to win 27–19. [35]
Smith scored his second try in as many weeks, crossing in the 39th minute against the Blues on May 14. [36] The try came off the back of a pick-and-go effort and brought his season total to a career-best three tries. [37] [38]
As one of five QRU Indigenous Program ambassadors for the 2022 season, Smith took part in the Indigenous Round launch and photo shoot ahead of the clash against Moana Pasifika on May 20. [39] [40]
Smith won the 2022 "Spirit of the Reds" award. [41] The Reds announced that Smith signed a two-year extension with the club on June 29. [42]
2023
Late in the first half of Queensland's second preseason trial against the Waratahs in Narrabri, Smith left the field with a shoulder injury. [43] He returned to play in the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific against the Hurricanes at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, with several other locks unavailable due to injury. [44] In the 34th minute of that match, he received his first Super Rugby yellow card for impeding Jordie Barrett on a kick-and-chase. [45]
His first try of the season, which was also the opening try of the match, came on 5 March during a dominant Super Round performance against the Force. [46] The Reds' 71–20 victory set a new record for the most points scored in Queensland Super Rugby history. [47]
Smith scored his second try of the season on 25 March against the Rebels, peeling off the back of a rolling maul in the 50th minute and powering over Monty Ioane from close range. [48] In the 77th minute, a potential go-ahead try by Tate McDermott was disallowed after Smith was controversially penalised for holding back Rebels flanker Josh Kemeny. [49]
In the final match of the regular season on 3 June, Smith scored the Reds’ opening try in the 8th minute from a set-piece play. [50] Despite his early effort, Queensland lost 41–17 to the Drua, a result that secured the Fijians their maiden Super Rugby finals berth in just their second season. [51]
2024
On 12 April, Smith earned his 50th cap for the Reds in a 17–14 loss to Moana at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei. [52] In his next appearance on 19 April, he celebrated his 50th Super Rugby cap by scoring his first try of the 2024 season just 27 minutes into a dominant 31–0 victory over the Highlanders. [53] [54]
Ahead of their quarter-final against the Chiefs, the Reds received a boost as Smith and fellow Brothers junior Josh Flook re-committed for the 2025 season. [55]
In the 2024 Super Rugby season Smith topped the tackle count for the Reds and recorded more tackles than any other lock in the competition. He completed 207 tackles with a 93% success rate, ranking fourth overall behind flankers, Carlo Tizzano (240), Dalton Papali’i (208) and Billy Harmon (208). [56]
On 19 July, Smith started against Wales in the final match of their 2024 Australia tour. [57] Wales entered the fixture desperate for a win, following a 2–0 Test series defeat to the Wallabies. [58] A narrow 36–35 Reds loss saw Jock Campbell become the 127th captain in Queensland history, [59] [60] with Smith filling the role of vice-captain for the first time. [61]
Smith was selected as captain for the Reds two-game tour of Japan against the Saitama Wild Knights at Kumagaya Rugby Ground. [62] He scored in the opening match, an uncapped trial against the Wild Knights, contributing to a 59–29 victory. [63] [64] On 4 November, Smith officially became the 128th Reds captain. He opened the scoring as his side secured a 42–28 victory and retained the Queensland-Saitama Shield. [65] [66]
2025
The Reds played their first match of the 2025 season after a bye in Round 1, defeating Moana 56–36 at home. [67] Smith scored his eighth professional try in the match and dedicated it to his firstborn with a post-try celebration, facing the crowd and cradling his arms. [68] [69]
On 29 March, Smith captained the Reds for the first time in a Super Rugby match. [70] [71] He led the team to a 28–24 victory over the Force [72] in the absence of Wallabies trio Harry Wilson (rested), Fraser McReight (rested), and Liam Wright (injured). Usual co-captain Tate McDermott returned via the bench and scored the decisive try, securing top spot on the Super Rugby ladder for the first time in 13 years. [73] [74]
On 23 April it was announced that Smith would depart the Reds to join the Ospreys on a two-year deal ahead of the 2025–26 United Rugby Championship season. [75] [76]
Two days later, Smith made his final ANZAC round appearance for the Reds, coming off the bench in a 35–21 victory against the Blues—their first match on ANZAC Day since 1998. [77] [78] It was also the first time in his professional career that he wore the No. 20 jersey. [79]
Smith played every minute of his final Super Rugby home match on 31 May. [80] [81] He assisted the second try of Lachie Anderson’s record breaking four-try first-half haul. [82] [83] With the last play of the game, Smith kicked the first conversion of his professional career. [84]
Smith’s final Super Rugby match was a 32–12 quarter-final loss to the Crusaders. [85] He contributed to the Reds’ opening score by winning the line-out that set up a rolling maul try. [86]
On July 3, Smith made his 76th and final [87] appearance for the Reds in a match against the British & Irish Lions during their 2025 Australia tour. [88] He came off the bench as the Reds were defeated 12–52 in front of a crowd of 46,435. [89] [90] Man of the match honours went to Jac Morgan — captain of Smith’s next club, Ospreys — whom he described after the match as “world-class.” [91] [92]
Smith hosted the Queensland Reds' official podcast, Socks Up with Ryan Smith, which ran for two seasons from 2023 to 2024. [110] Produced in partnership with Triple M, the podcast featured a guest before each home game—often a fellow Reds player—and offered fans behind-the-scenes access, exclusive news, and player insights. [111]
Season 1 aired in 2023, with the first episode released on February 22 and featuring Wallabies captain Harry Wilson as the inaugural guest. [112]
Season 2 premiered on February 22, 2024. Fellow Reds player Matt Faessler joined as co-host in Episode 2, which featured Cormac Daly and was released on March 8, 2024. [113]
Smith co-hosted Season 3, Episode 2 of Under the Surface, the Reds’ documentary series, published on May 7, 2025. [114] He interviewed fellow players ahead of the ANZAC Day fixture against the Blues, offering insights into team preparation and spirit. [115]
