The Vodacom Bulls have bid farewell to their 2023-24 URC Golden Boot winner, who will start a new chapter of his rugby career in France.
Chris Smith has brought an end to his five-year stay at the Vodacom Bulls to take up a move to French ProD2 club Oyonnax.
Oyonnax officially confirmed the move on Tuesday afternoon, as the club plots a way back into the Top 14, after finishing bottom of the table and being relegated at the end of the season.
✍️ 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 I Avec ʙᴅᴏ ᴀᴠᴏᴄᴀᴛꜱ, nous avons le plaisir de vous annoncer le recrutement à partir de la saison 2024-2025 du demi d’ouverture 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗛, en provenance des @BlueBullsRugby et ce pour une durée de 2 ans, soit jusqu’en 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. https://t.co/L4Bfjykllk
— Oyonnax Rugby (@OyonnaxRugby) June 25, 2024
Cape Town-raised Smith joined the Bulls in 2020 after impressing for the Pumas, making his debut in the 2020 Super Rugby Unlocked tournament.
Initially sharing the playmaking responsibility with Morne Steyn, Smith started in the Bulls’ run through the URC playoffs to the final in 2022.
The 29-year-old has found himself behind Johan Goosen in the pecking order, although his pinpoint kicking game earned him the 2023-24 URC’s Golden Boot award.
Smith finishes his stint at the Bulls with 74 appearances in all competitions, scoring 452 points.
The Bulls have already recruited a replacement for Smith, having signed Boeta Chamberlain from the Sharks.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
