SOME have called Sam Smith “crazy” while others are still struggling to make sense of his decision to join Worcester Warriors.
The talented wing was playing for Harlequins and scoring important tries, including back-to-back braces against Zebre and Newcastle Falcons in December.
Warriors, meanwhile, were desperately searching for their first win of the season, which eventually came too late to spark a revival.
At the end of the campaign the two sides were separated by 51 points as Harlequins made the Aviva Premiership play-offs while Worcester were relegated with a game to spare.
But when it came down to contract negotiations, it was director of rugby Dean Ryan who won the battle for the 24-year-old’s signature, which he said came as a surprise to his friends and family.
“I have been at Quins since I was about 14 years old, so it was a tough decision to move away from a club that I have been at my whole playing career,” Smith said.
“But when I came up here and spoke to Dean I made my mind up almost instantaneously and I felt pretty comfortable in making that decision.”
Although Quins had qualified for the European Rugby Champions Cup, the former England u20 star said the challenge of being one of the leading men at Worcester was a key reason behind his move to Worcester.
“To make that next step in my career, I think I need to be playing week in week out and Dean has given me the opportunity to win a place in the team and if I play well enough hopefully I will keep it,” he said.
“If you had asked me three years ago, would I have gone to Worcester? I would have said no, but when I had heard that Dean had taken over and they were bringing in people like Nick Johnson I thought they could be the guys to turn things around at Worcester. And once I understood what they were planning to do here it obviously won me over and now I am here.”
Smith, who scored eight tries last season, said he was focused on helping Warriors secure promotion this season as he aims to silence anyone who doubted his switch to Sixways.
“I made the decision with a view to making it work and making this team a successful side and I am sure the other guys who have come here feel the same,” he added.
“I am confident about where this team is heading, so hopefully in a year or so I can turn back to those people and say it was not a crazy decision after all.”
Caption: Sam Smith joined Worcester Warriors from Harlequins in the summer. Picture by Andy Baldwin.