It's a career worthy of being cast in bronze and the ACT government has revealed it will consider immortalising Brumbies flanker George Smith with a statue at the club's new $15 million home.
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Smith will play his 137th Super Rugby match against the Canterbury Crusaders at Canberra Stadium on Sunday, breaking the Brumbies record set by George Gregan.
Smith has indicated his interest in making an international comeback with the Wallabies next month, but the 110-Test veteran has all but ruled out coming back to play Super Rugby beyond this season.
The idea of building a statue of Smith at Canberra Stadium was floated when Smith left the Brumbies in 2010. ACT Sport Minister Andrew Barr said he would reconsider ways to commemorate Smith's contribution to Canberra rugby.
The Brumbies will move to a new $15 million training base at the University of Canberra at the end of the year and Barr said it may be an appropriate location.
''I'm happy to consider any plans that the Brumbies may have to honour Smith's contribution to local rugby,'' Barr said. ''The new Brumbies HQ at the University of Canberra may present such an opportunity in coming years.''
Gregan and Stephen Larkham have a stand named in their honour at Canberra Stadium. ''George wouldn't be out of place. I can't believe in rugby union he wouldn't be seen as the equivalent of (Mal) Meninga and (Laurie) Daley or Larkham and Gregan,'' Jake White said. ''What more does a guy have to achieve?''
At 32, Smith is still at the peak of his powers and is dominating in his surprise Super Rugby return.
It's fitting his 137th Brumbies appearance will be against the Crusaders, a team he built a fierce rivalry against in the early 2000s.
The teams played in three finals between 2000 and 2005 and Smith went head-to-head with one of his greatest rivals, Richie McCaw.
Smith's last game in 2010, before his return to Super Rugby this year, was a loss to the Crusaders. Smith even got a chance to take a consolation conversion attempt after the siren, but he missed.
''My last game with the Brumbies before coming back [this year] was against the Crusaders in Christchurch and I didn't achieve that last goal [attempt] that I wanted to get, and it was a loss, so I'd like to get a win against them,'' Smith said.
''We've always had huge rivalries with them over the years and I expect no different.''
Smith is still contracted with Japanese club Suntory until the end of their 2013-14 campaign and is negotiating a deal to stay in Japan for at least one more season.
Although Suntory have given Smith clearance to play with the Brumbies and Wallabies this season, it is expected to be Smith's last in Australia.
''It's very highly unlikely [a Super Rugby return again] would happen just because I'm not getting any younger. Life after football is coming up pretty soon and I'm enjoying my time in Japan,'' Smith said.
''I'm enjoying this stint with the Brumbies … but at this stage I can't say what's going to happen.''