Smith heading home from Japan to help out Brumbies
FORMER Wallabies flanker George Smith helped Suntory Sungoliath win the Japanese premiership on Sunday and now the 110-Test veteran is heading back to Canberra to rejoin the Brumbies for the rest of the Super Rugby season.
Smith, 32, is contracted to the Japanese club, but it has allowed him to play for his former team during the off-season in Japan.
A former Wallabies and Brumbies captain, Smith, who in 2002 was the first recipient of the John Eales Medal - awarded annually to Australia's best player - turned out 128 times for the Brumbies before leaving in 2010.
He then played a season in France with Toulon before moving to Japan.
"George's record and ability to win games is outstanding. The guy has won Super Rugby Championships, he's won big games for the Wallabies and he's played in a Rugby World Cup final so I want him to bring that winning culture back here to the Brumbies," Brumbies coach Jake White said.
Meanwhile, another former Wallabies captain, Rocky Elsom, looks set to resurrect his injury-hit career with Toulon and was due to have a medical overnight.
