Franco Smith has been named Vodacom United Rugby Championship Coach of the Season after guiding the Glasgow Warriors to the quarter-finals of the competition.
The 50-year-old South African has had a stunning debut campaign in charge of Glasgow, leading the Warriors to the Scottish x Italian Shield and a top-four finish as well as guiding them into their first European final.
Smith, who joined the Warriors this season on a two-year contract from the Italian Rugby Federation, also helped the Warriors go the whole URC regular season unbeaten at Scotstoun Stadium.
The Scots did suffer their only home defeat in any competition when losing 14-5 to Munster in the quarter-final and were then beaten 43-19 by Toulon in the final of the EPCR Challenge Cup at the Aviva Stadium last week.
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“This is season one for this group. This is not the end for us, this is just the start. It’s a stepping stone,” Smith said.
A former Springbok flyhalf and assistant coach, he led Italy during 2020 and 2021, and was previously head coach of Benetton from 2007 to 2013 and spent several spells as player, assistant coach and head coach of the Cheetahs in his native country.
This award was voted for by the URC’s 16 head coaches and leaves only one prize still to be announced – the Players’ Player of the Season.
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URC Awards 2022-23 winners:
Top Try Scorer: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Tackle Machine: John Hodnett (Munster)
Turnover King: Thomas Young (Cardiff Rugby)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Elite XV: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Daniel du Plessis (Stormers), Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Grant Williams (Sharks), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Scott Penny (Leinster), Vaea Fifita (Scarlets), Federico Ruzza (Benetton), Niall Murray (Connacht), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
Try of the Season: Joaquin Riera (Benetton)
Ironman: Quan Horn (Lions)
Golden Boot: Johan Goosen (Bulls)
Fans’ Player of the Season: Manie Libbok (Stormers)
Coach of the Season: Franco Smith (Glasgow Warriors)
Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images