Smith boosts Tasman forward power

The Tasman Makos’ forward stocks received a timely boost this week with confirmation that Queensland Reds’ number eight Tasi Luafutu and Auckland hooker Francis Smith have signed for this year’s ITM Cup rugby competition.

Smith was born in the Cook Islands, the son of Ewan and Fenny Smith and became the first hooker to score three tries in an NPC match when he notched a hat-trick against North Harbour in 2008 while on loan from Auckland.

Last year Smith played seven matches for Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup, having previously played 14 times for Northland.

Formerly a loose-forward, the 1.80m tall, 97kg, 25-year-old switched to hooker during the New Zealand Universities tour of Japan in 2006.

This year he’s played his club rugby for the Sumner club in Christchurch and his signing with the Tasman Makos is timely given season-ending injuries to last year’s regular first choice Quentin MacDonald and another leading contender this year, Jesse MacDonald, Quentin’s younger brother.

The 1.86m tall, 111kg Luafutu, 22, is a mobile back-rower.

He was born in Invercargill and can play in all three loose-forward positions, and in the final Super 14 match against the Highlanders last month he scored two tries off the bench, the second near the finish to win the match.

Tasman Makos’ assistant coach Leon MacDonald said he and head coach Kieran Keane were delighted to have secured the services of two quality players.

“Tasi appealed because he’s quite a powerful number eight and he has Super 14 experience. He’s replacing Mark Bright, an experienced old hand and a great performer at the back of the scrum.

"Francis is in his third year of NPC. We needed a No1 hooker.

He’s strong and powerful and an excellent lineout thrower. Bright and Quentin MacDonald are big losses and two holes we wanted to fill. We are really stoked to sign both of these players.”

Smith attended his first Makos’ elite training squad training this week in Nelson and MacDonald said he fitted in like a glove.

He came highly recommended from the Sumner coach, former All Black loose-forward Scott Robertson.