Smith went to Hoërskool Sand du Plessis in Bloemfontein, where he earned a selection to the Free State Under-18 Craven Week team in 1990.

[4] He made his first class debut in September 1992, playing at centre for the Free State's match against Western Transvaal in Round Two of the 1992 Lion Cup competition.

At the start of 1998, Springbok coach Nick Mallett requested that Smith was loaned from the Cats to the Bulls for the 1998 Super 12 season.

[12] After just one season in Wales, Smith returned to South Africa and rejoined the Blue Bulls,[13] representing them in the 2000 Currie Cup.

He moved to Witbank, where he played for the Pumas in the 2001 Currie Cup, before he had a short spell at Italian side Bologna.

He returned to South Africa and to the side where it all started, the Free State Cheetahs, where he was included in their squad for the 2005 Currie Cup Premier Division, but failed to make an appearance.

[24] On 19 May 2021, it was announced that Smith would step up to a new role as Head of High Performance focusing on all levels of domestic and international rugby for the Italian federation.

Smith said of the move: "I have followed Glasgow for a long time, since coaching at Benetton when they joined the PRO12 in 2010, and the way they play has always appealed to me because their style is embraced by the fans.

"[25] Glasgow Warriors were crowned URC Champions in the 2023-2024 season after beating Bulls in the final at Loftus Versfeld.