Matt Smith made 228 appearances for Leicester Tigers before moving into coaching, with the club's academy programme after retiring from playing in 2019, and joined Steve Borthwick's coaching team ahead of the 20/21 season.

He originally came through the Tigers Academy and impressed at A-League level before being handed his senior club debut against the Barbarians in 2006. 

In 14 seasons in the senior squad, Smith won four Premiership and three Anglo-Welsh Cup titles, and gained England Saxons selection.

During the 2012/13 season, the Leicester-born centre joined his father Ian ‘Dosser’ Smith as the first father and son to each make 100 starting appearances for the club in its 130-year history.

Smith played in his fourth Premiership Final in 2013 after previous appearances in 2009, 2010 – when he scored a try in the win over Saracens – and 2011, and won the title for a third time in his career, to go with the Anglo-Welsh Cup title won in 2011/12.

Supporters’ Young Player of the Year in 2008/09 after making 26 consecutive appearances from the start of campaign and then returning from injury to play in the Premiership and Heineken Cup Finals, Smith marked his debut for England Saxons that season with a try against Portugal and also scored on his Churchill Cup debut against Argentina Jaguars after a late call-up.

After a decade in the senior ranks at Tigers, Matt picked up the supporters’ Outstanding Service Award at the end of the 2015/16 season, a year in which he also shared a testimonial with former Oakham schoolmate Tom Croft, and added an Anglo-Welsh Cup winner’s medal on the day of his 200^th appearance in March 2017.

In his debut season as Head Coach of the Tigers Academy, he helped lead the side to its third successive Under-18 League title.

Smith joined Borthwick’s coaching team on an interim basis in November 2020 and agreed a new deal to continue in the role as Assistant Coach for the senior squad in June 2021.