As far back as he can remember, Benetton’s Rhyno Smith had a rugby ball in his hand – although his path to the professional game wasn’t a straightforward one.
Smith was born and grew up in Paarl in the Western Cape but never earned a provincial call-up while at Paarl Boys' High School.
But when you hear about his sheer love and adoration for the game – you just know he was destined for it, with his dad buying him his first rugby ball before he could barely walk.
“Like any South African boy growing up you play the most important rugby games of your life against your brothers and your cousins,” he says.
“We played some serious games of backyard rugby and I mean I reckon that's where you cut your teeth.
“When my dad bought me my first ball and I must have been a year old.
“Even as a baby, I was able to kick the ball surprisingly far and I was hitting the windows and breaking stuff when I was quite young!"
From buying him that first ball as an infant, to watching rugby with him all weekend, it’s an easy answer for Rhyno when asked who has been the most influential person on his career.
“Easy answer. The single most influential will be my dad,” he says without hesitation.
“My dad never played any rugby growing up but he's a massive rugby fan.
“Rugby was by far his favourite sport. He never played a game of rugby in his life but he has never missed a game. You’re watching rugby all day Saturday, every Saturday, no questions asked.
“He'd skip out on anything except, maybe church, to not miss a game, you know?
“And so just growing up in an household like that, it was always part of part of the thing.
“I went through difficulties, I went through super highs, super lows – all the way through.
“And he was there. I turned pro and my dad is still that one phone call that you want to hear from before the game and after the game.
“His opinion matters, even though the doesn't have the technical knowledge required to advise and to help me through some of the stuff that I face now.
“But he's the one person that nurtured that relationship, that love that I now have for rugby. So definitely my dad."
But Smith didn’t think he would make it as a professional rugby player until a profound moment between him and his sevens coach at North-West University gave him that confidence and believe he needed.
“I would say as far as coaches go, they are couple that are definitely worth a mention,” he says.
“But if I had to say the one that really turned my life around would be my sevens coach at university.
“I was never intending on becoming a professional rugby player or anything like that, it didn't look like my story would arc that way either.
“And then he selected me for a sevens tour. We played a version of the Currie Cup I suppose but they call it nationals.
“And he does this thing where when he selects a sevens team, the night before the first game, he hands everyone their jersey himself – and he gives you the reason why he brought you here.
“The way that he spoke about me, it was the first time in my life really, where I felt like I was valuable. I was not here accidentally or because he's doing me a favour.
“I'm here because he reckons I've got something to contribute. And I think that one moment really changed my life. We still have a very, very good relationship. And when I can and how I can – I do my best to give back.
“He's still at the Northwest University, still running the sevens programme.
“And I just, I love helping and giving back where I can, because without that programme and him specifically, I wouldn't have become the player that I'm today."
Rounds 11 & 12 in the United Rugby Championship are Origin Round and Smith knows more than anyone how important it is to remember where we came from and to give back where we can.
“It’s incredibly important,” he says.
“When I was a young boy watching the game, loving green and gold, I had legends to look up to.
“Now we are the ones that people are watching.”
Across Rounds 11 and 12 the URC is inviting teams, players and fans to celebrate the communities and people who helped launch the careers of hundreds of rugby players and coaches.
Over 600 players appear in the United Rugby Championship each season with parents, coaches and over 550 clubs from across 17 countries and all corners of the globe helping to put them on a pathway to play at the highest level.
The URC will shine a spotlight on the identities of the clubs, schools and communities that do an incredible job of giving children the chance to first pick up a rugby ball and guide the lucky few good enough to reach the elite level.
For Rounds 11 and 12 the URC will adopt Origin Round branding on its digital channels. Broadcasters will also highlight the origin point of various players with some wearing their school/club socks. While fans attending games are encouraged to wear their school/club jerseys or socks.
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