Former Wallabies and Ireland player Brian Smith has died aged 59 after a battle with aggressive cancer.
The gifted dual-code athlete played five Tests for Australia in 1987, including at the Rugby World Cup that year, before later making the controversial switch to Ireland, where he added nine more internationals after moving to the UK to study.
When he returned to Australia in 1991, Smith changed codes again. Former Wallabies coach Alan Jones had taken charge of Balmain and convinced him to take up rugby league. Used mainly at halfback, Smith went on to play 43 league matches in the early 1990s for Balmain and Eastern Suburbs, with 37 of those appearances coming for the Tigers before he finished his career with the Tricolours.
Jones had previously described Smith as one of the world’s most gifted players. After retiring, Smith remained deeply involved in sport through education, eventually heading the sports department at Sydney’s Scots College.
News of his death was confirmed in a message to school staff from Scots principal Ian Lambert.
“Brian had been very unwell in recent months and was battling an aggressive cancer,” Scots principal Ian Lambert wrote to school colleagues.
“This is very sad news for our college community and I know it will come as a shock to many of you who knew and worked closely with him.
“Our immediate thoughts are with Brian’s wife Lisa, his daughters Ruby and Santana, and his son Chilli.”
The loss also hit former Balmain teammate Mark Geyer hard, with the ex-league star saying he had no idea Smith had been so ill.
“We were about the same age – I didn’t even know the poor guy was crook,” Geyer told nine.com.au.
“You couldn’t find a nicer, more considerate person who cared for his teammates.
“And he had plenty of ability too – playing for the Wallabies and then switching codes and starring in league is not easy to do.
“He was a real talent and it is a tragedy.”
Current Wallabies prop Angus Bell began his Wednesday press conference by paying tribute to Smith, who had coached many young players coming through Scots and representative pathways.
“I just wanted to touch on the passing of Brian Smith, Wallabies (cap number) 659,” Bell said.
“He was coaching at the Scots school and coached a lot of us coming through the grades. I just wanted to say it’s a really sad time, and we’re wishing the best for his wife and kids. He was an avid rugby person and helped a lot of individuals in the squad and in the Wallabies today. Just sending my condolences.”
Bell, 25, has played 54 Tests and is regarded as one of the world’s best props. He said Smith’s guidance had a major influence on his rise.
“He was my coach in GPS and New South Wales 2s (seconds),” Bell said.
“I was 16 and fair to say I wouldn’t have played anywhere near as good without him. Me, (Wallabies lock) Jeremy Williams and Will Harris from the Force were really close with him. He was a great bloke, a great father and a great coach. Very sad.”
