'Dark times' a thing of the past for Scotland hopeful Robbie Smith

Northampton Saints hooker Robbie Smith is hoping that Gallagher PREM glory in the next month will earn him the chance to add to his two Scotland caps this summer.

Dumfries-born Smith, 27, received his first call-up from Gregor Townsend in June 2024 and, a month later, won his first caps in North America against Canada and the USA.

He then suffered a horrific knee injury on his first start the following season against Sale Sharks, which kept him out of action for a year, but he has returned to fitness and played 21 games this season.

Smith, who joined Saints four years ago, now hopes to be involved in Scotland’s Nations Championship campaign against Argentina, South Africa, and Fiji this summer.

“Obviously, the two caps that I got was a dream I had since I was a young boy trying to get capped from my country, and I had an injury pretty much straight after that, which put me out for a year, and this is my first season back, playing 21 games this year,” he said.

“So, I’m just loving my rugby here at the minute, and then whatever comes off the back of that comes off the back of it. But of course, I’m hungry to try and get back into that environment. But I’m loving rugby here at the minute and just trying to focus on it.”

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Northampton

07:00

30 May 26

Gloucester

All Stats and Data

Smith says he hasn’t heard from Scotland boss Townsend or his coaching team, but that isn’t unusual, as he recalls his first call-up almost two years ago and relives the injury that kept him on the sidelines for a year.

“No, not really. But to be fair, before the summer stuff hadn’t had a whole lot of conversations with them, and then at the last minute, you get a phone call, which is pretty cool to tell you that you’re in,” he added.

“So, I’ll be hoping for that, but as I say, we’ll see what happens first, but definitely, the bigger games we can play in is a club gives us boys more chance to put our arms up for international stuff.

“There’s never a right time for an injury like that, but obviously, being on a high off the back of having a good season and getting my first couple of caps, it was pretty tough to deal with.

“Being locked away from the lads in the gym and the club playing some big games and missing out on playing games at Franklin’s Gardens, which we all have to do, is tough.

“I think, for me, I was lucky to have Sam Graham alongside me, which helped me a lot. I did a lot of rehab with him and managed to get through some dark times with him.

“There’s nothing easy about it. It’s just one of those things you’ve got to suck up and get right down to get back to doing what you love, but I look at that as in the past now.”