South African scrum-half Juan-Philip ‘JP’ Smith played in Major League Rugby between 2019-2025. He represented the Seattle Seawolves for his entire MLR career.

Prior to joining MLR, JP Smith already had an impressive resume having represented the Springboks at U20 level in 2014. He played with the Blue Bulls from 2013-15, and the Cheetahs from 2016-17. He represented the Southern Kings in the PRO 14 (but still based in South Africa) in 2018 before moving to the Eastern Province Elephants in the Currie Cup competition.

Smith has played in Major League Rugby in every season since 2019, and is one of the most capped players in the league. He has earned 73 caps (66 starts) all for the Seattle Seawolves, scoring 17 tries and 103pts total (5/6 from the tee – 83.33%). His high of 6 tries in a season came in 2019, when the Seawolves raised their 2nd MLR Shield following a 23-26 victory over the San Diego Legion in which JP Smith scored a try. Smith has 22pts in Championship Series games to date, placing him 5th all-time in terms of playoff points scored.

On 26th October 2023, the Seattle Seawolves announced that they had extended JP Smith through the 2025 MLR season, and he appeared in all 19 games of the 2024 regular season, scoring 3 tries and Captaining the side a number of times in Riekert Hattingh’s absence. Smith was one of only 2 players to appear in the maximum 19 games during 2024, as the Seawolves defeated the San Diego Legion and Dallas Jackals to earn a spot in their 4th (and Smith’s 3rd) MLR final, where they fell 11-20 to the New England Free Jacks in San Diego. Smith was named to the All-MLR Honorable Mention XV for his play during 2024. Following the regular season, Smith earned his debut with the USA Eagles (whom he qualifies for on residency) on 5th July, a 20-22 loss to Romania in Chicago, before returning to the Seawolves for the MLR post-season.

Achievements:

• 2024 MLR Runner-Up: Seattle Seawolves
• 2024 All-MLR Honorable Mention XV
• 2024 MLR Ironman
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 5
• 2022 MLR Runner-Up: Seattle Seawolves
• MLR Team of the Week: 2020 – Rd 4
• 2019 MLR Champion: Seattle Seawolves
• MLR Team of the Week: 2019 – Championship Final
• MLR Team of the Week: 2019 – Rd 17
• MLR Team of the Week: 2019 – Rd 16