“This decision to resign was not an easy one and it is based primarily on me wanting to focus more of my time on my young family,” the 38-year-old said in a statement.

“I look forward both to the next challenge in my career and to remaining a frequent visitor to Kings Park, my home from home since I was 18 years old.”

Smit will leave the Sharks at the end of this season.

A hooker, he debuted for the Durban outfit in 1998 and spent most of his 13-year career with them. He also played for Clermont in France and Saracens in England.

He was named Springboks skipper in 2004 when Jake White became coach and captained the country to their second Rugby World Cup title three years later in Paris.

Smit retired from Test rugby after South Africa were eliminated in the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals by Australia.

He won 111 caps, the third highest total for a Springbok after Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana.

Off the field, Smit saw the Sharks win the South African Currie Cup soon after he became chief executive, surprising hosts Western Province in a Cape Town final.

But the Sharks failed to qualify for the Super Rugby play-offs twice in three seasons during his tenure with an 11th place finish last year particularly embarrassing.

The Sharks are among four South African contenders this season for three play-offs places from the Africa 1 and 2 conferences.

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