Watch the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific and Super W seasons on the home of rugby, Stan Sport.<\/strong><\/em> All matches streaming ad free, live and on demand<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n For women, going pro in rugby remains one of the toughest tasks. Although support for the sport continues to grow year-on-year, only a few can say it's their primary source of income.<\/p>\n The strain is well-documented and every waking moment has purpose. Most work full-time jobs, some have families, and others study.<\/p>\n It's a battle to stay committed, Smith admits.\u00a0<\/p>\n On one hand, she could give away the sport and spend every spare second she has with her daughter Ruby.<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>Blues undone by skipper's ugly red card hit<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>Hurricanes tie record in demolition job of strugglers<\/strong><\/a>\ufeff<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>All Blacks' 'greatest centre in history' dies<\/strong><\/a>\ufeff<\/strong><\/p>\n On the other, she could represent the Wallaroos at the pinnacle as she did in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last year.<\/p>\n "For me, as a mum, I've thought about giving up footy a lot so I can focus on my little girl and what she needs in the future," Smith told Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n "Because she's still young I feel like this is my only time to be able to chase my career while I'm at this age, coming into my 30s.\u00a0<\/p>\n "So, footy is probably the thing that I would give up for my child, but because she's so young everyone's telling me to try and chase it otherwise I'll regret it in the long run."<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CnabG-Vhv0w\/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==<\/a><\/p>\n Smith said it's no easy feat.<\/p>\n While she's on the field, someone has to take care of her daughter.<\/p>\n For most, that would be a partner. Smith doesn't have that support net.<\/p>\n "It's really hard," she explained.<\/p>\n "Because I'm a single mum, sometimes I don't really have that support, especially like if you're in a family your child has their father there with you and they're together.\u00a0<\/p>\n "It's so much easier, you can just go and leave them with them, whereas as a single parent, I would go and then I have to find someone to watch her while I'm gone as well \u2013 and to be able to trust people as well to have my daughter as well. That's the hard part about it."<\/p>\n The toll isn't lost on her teammates.<\/p>\n Ivania Wong was brought to tears speaking about Smith's resilience and the admiration she has for her Queensland Reds offsider.<\/p>\n "She's tough, especially with footy, giving up time with Ruby to be here and put in the effort and just smash out training while she's here and then rush home to be a mum," said Wong.<\/p>\n "I think she does pretty well at balancing the two."<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>!\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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