WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Women’s World Cup-winning coach Wayne Smith has received a knighthood for services to rugby in New Zealand’s annual King’s birthday honors.
The 66-year-old Smith played 17 times for the All Blacks, was head coach and an assistant coach of the All Blacks, and was recently appointed a coaching supervisor for the New Zealand men’s and women’s national teams.
Smith took over as coach of the New Zealand women’s team just before last year's home World Cup after a series of defeats on a tour to Europe.
The team was not expected to win the tournament but became champion by ending England's world record winning streak in the final.
”(The World Cup) was a helluva adventure,” Smith told the New Zealand Herald on Monday. “I had no idea when I entered it how fulfilling it would be — not just the rugby but the way the women were, the connection with community, the goodness in them and joy they had for playing. Those are things I’ll never forget.”
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