Career

Having spent his childhood in Cornwall in the United Kingdom, Dan moved back to New Zealand with his family. While in New Zealand he attended university, played local rugby for Manawatu as well as representing the New Zealand Maori Colts, with the aim of achieving a Super Rugby contract with the Wellington Hurricanes. While on a working holiday back in the UK Dan played some rugby in a local cup tie in Devon suffering an ankle ligament injury that ended thoughts of an immediate contract in pro rugby back in New Zealand. As a result Plymouth Albion gave Dan the offer of rugby in tier 4 of the English club game and in 2000-01 he was part of the all conquering Albion team under the tutelage of Graham Dawe that took the league title with a perfect record of 26 wins out of 26, with Dan finishing as joint top try scorer in the division with 20 tries. A second successive promotion followed at Albion during the 2001-02 season where the club finished second to Orrell with Ward-Smith again becoming top try scorer in the division, this time with 23 tries.

Having helped Plymouth achieved stability in tier 2 in a spell in which he scored almost 100 tries, Ward-Smith caught the eye of the big boys, joining Bristol for the 2005-6 campaign and looked to make a huge impression in his first season in the Premiership. That is exactly what he did, his massive 1.93m, 115 kg frame was a driving point in Bristol's survival that season, his massive strength from the No.8 position gave the Bristol backs a strong platform off which to perform, and his strength from the base of the scrum was one of the reasons why Shaun Perry shone as he did. His nickname is "mutant" amongst his peers.

He was selected for England 'A' in his first season at Bristol Rugby, making his debut against Ireland A. In his second season at the club he was called up to the 30-man England training squad for the Autumn Internationals. To the fans he is simply known as "Massive" Michael Johnson is a huge fan, and would often be spotted wearing a Dan Ward Smith Cod Piece. He missed out on a place in the 2007 England World Cup squad due to a dislocated patella after being part of the initial training squad. After a promising start to the 2007-08 season with Bristol he broke his hand cooking dinner for Yves and missed out on selection for the 2008 Six Nations squad.

It was announced on 24 March 2009 that he had signed a 2-year deal with London Wasps. On 7 July 2009; Ward-Smith was selected for the England Saxons squad. He has been selected by Martin Johnson for the 2010 tour to the southern hemisphere. However he didn't make it on to the pitch and he ultimately was never capped for England at senior level. In August 2011 he announced immediate retirement from the game due to medical advice.

Honours

Plymouth Albion

• National Division 3 South champions: 2000-01
• National Division 3 South (joint) top try scorer (20 tries): 2000-01
• National Division 2 top try scorer (23 tries): 2001-02

International/Representative

• Represented New Zealand Maori Colts
• Represented England Saxons

[ Source: Wikipedia ]