Junior Springbok Jean Smith Marries After 23-Year Love Story

• Junior Springbok fly-half Jean Smith, son of former Springbok Franco Smith, recently tied the knot in a celebrated wedding
• The couple's families were already close friends before Jean and his bride were even born, making their love story 23 years in the making
• Several famous rugby players attended the ceremony, with fans and followers flooding the couple with messages of congratulations

Jean Smith, the Junior Springbok fly-half and son of former Springbok Franco Smith, got married recently to his childhood sweetheart, Stine, in a wedding that had rugby royalty in attendance.

What made the occasion even more remarkable was the backstory behind it. According to Huisgenoot, which covered the wedding in its latest issue, the couple's parents were already close friends before Jean and his bride were even born. Twenty-three years later, two rugby-mad families watched their children say "I do", with a number of well-known players present on the day.

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A rugby family through and through

Jean carries one of South African rugby's most recognisable surnames. His father, Franco Smith, earned nine Springbok caps between 1996 and 1999 before transitioning into coaching. Franco has since built a respected coaching career overseas and is currently associated with Glasgow Warriors in Scotland.

Jean followed his father's footsteps onto the field, coming through the prestigious Grey College system before making his name with the Sharks. He represented the Junior Springboks at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship and spent five seasons with the Sharks. In March 2026, he confirmed that he would be joining Italian side Benetton for the 2026/27 season, marking the next step in a career that has steadily grown.

Fans celebrate the Newlyweds

The wedding photos, shared on social media, drew warm responses from followers who were clearly moved by the couple's story.

@lenkadewaal:

"😍😍😍"

@masch_bridal:

"Congratulations 💗💗 you looked so beautiful in your wedding dress! 😍"

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@milishagantz.x:

"Geluk julle! ⭐⭐" (Congratulations to you both!)

@aimee.maritz:

"You guys looked stunning 🙌🙌🙌🔥"

See the pictures in the post below.

For South African rugby fans, the wedding offered a rare feel-good moment away from the pitch, a reminder that behind the jerseys and the scorelines, there are love stories that have been quietly building for decades.

Smith follows in the footsteps of several Springboks and rugby stars in South Africa. South Africa's sevens rugby star Tristan Leyds recently walked down the aisle, joining other players such as Herschel Jantjies, who also married in February.

Springbok star ties the knot

Briefly News previously reported that Quan Horn married Mujeanne at the Nooitgedacht wine estate in Stellenbosch earlier in 2026.

The Springbok star could not hold back tears when he saw his bride walking towards him in her wedding dress

Source: Briefly News