Former Treviso coach, Franco Smith has been appointed as Assistant Coach for the Currie Cup. Smith gained a wealth of experience whilst coaching Treviso.

Sport24

In joining the Free State Cheetahs as Assistant Coach, Franco has indeed come full circle, and he and coach Naka Drotskè resume a partnership that started in 2005.

Franco started his playing career at Griquas in 1996, and went on to represent the Cheetahs, Bulls, Newport, Bologna, and Benetton Treviso at club and provincial level. He also represented South Africa at test level (9 caps). He then started his coaching career as Cheetahs Technical Advisor in 2005, when the current coach Naka Drotskè was Cheetahs captain. The Cheetahs won the Currie Cup that year. In 2006 Naka Drotskè was appointed Team manager, and Franco was appointed Backline Coach. The Cheetahs shared the Currie Cup with the Bulls that year. In 2007 Naka Drotskè became Heas Coach at the Cheetahs, and Franco was appointed as Head Coach at Benetton Treviso in Italy. Under his coaching Treviso won the Italian Championship in consecutive seasons, namely 2008-09, and 2009-10. Whilst at Treviso the Italian club showed marked improvement, moving up the European Club rankings from 37th to 15th.

Playing History:

• 1996 – Griqualand West (Bankfin Curie Cup, South Africa tour to Argentina, France & Wales)
• 1997 –  Griqualand West (Bankfin Curie Cup, South Africa Winfield Tri Nations and tour to Europe)
• 1998 – Blue Bulls (Bankfin Curie Cup, Winfield Super 12,  South Africa Winfield Tri Nations, Wales & Ireland Inbound Tour, UK & Ireland Outbound Tour)
• 1999 – Blue Bulls (Bankfin Curie Cup, Winfield Super 12,  South Africa Winfield Tri Nations)
• 2000 – Blue Bulls (Bankfin Curie Cup)
• 2001 – Blue Bulls/Pumas (Bankfin Curie Cup, Vodacom Super 12)
• 2002 – Blue Bulls Vodacom Super 12)
• 2002 to 2005 – Benetton Treviso (Italian Club Championship)
• 2006 –  Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)

Coaching History:

• 2005 – Free State Cheetahs (Technical Advisor)
• 2006 – Free State Cheetahs (Backline Coach)
• 2007 – 2013 – Benetton Treviso (Head Coach)

Franco’s contract is effective from 1 July 2014, for the duration of the Currie Cup. With the departure of Hawies Fourie to Griquas as Head Coach, it is likely that Franco will be involved at some stage with the Super Rugby squad as well.