Inspiration
Franco Smith Jr on sibling rivalry and family legacy at the Cheetahs─── 10:58 Thu, 14 Aug 2025
The brothers Franco and Jean Smith took sibling rivalry to the rugby pitch this past weekend when the Cheetahs took on the Sharks in the Currie Cup.
In a heartwarming interview, Franco Smith Jr shared his passion for rugby, the Cheetahs, and his family legacy with the team.
He told the Good Morning Breakfast Show about the very special moment when he and his brother Jean faced each other professionally for the first time during this past weekend’s Currie Cup clash between the Cheetahs and the Sharks.
He has deep family ties to the Cheetahs: he is the son of former Cheetahs player and current Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith, and the nephew of former Free State flyhalf MJ Smith.
The 25-year-old Smith speaks fluent Italian, mostly to his wife, who is Italian and speaks only Italian – you could say, that’s amore.
