Arthur Smith (rugby union)
| Full name | Arthur Robert Smith | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 23 January 1933 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Castle Douglas | ||||||||||||||||
| University | Glasgow University, Cambridge University | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | |||||||||||||||||
| Position | wing | ||||||||||||||||
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| Professional / senior clubs | |||
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| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| National team(s) | |||
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| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1955-1962 | Scotland | 33 | |
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Correct as of 26 August 2009
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Arthur Robert Smith (23 January 1933 - 3 February 1975) was a wing of extraordinary ability and intelligence. He captained both Scotland and the British Lions. He won 33 caps for Scotland and was never dropped until his retirement in 1962, although he did miss the odd match due to injury. He also became Scotland's captain, which is a rare honour for a winger.
His debut was in 1955, a dark age for Scottish rugby, as the national team had just lost seventeen tests in a row. Smith helped to break this losing streak by scoring a try in a 35-10 defeat of Wales at Inverleith, which was probably one of the biggest upsets in post-war rugby.
Originally from Castle Douglas in south west Scotland, he graduated in mathematics at Glasgow University and then gained a PhD at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University. He represented Cambridge in four Varsity Matches from 1954 to 1957 inclusive. It was at Cambridge that he came to flourish as a player.
Richard Bath writes of him that
He was twice a British Lion, both times in South Africa (1955 and 1962). Smith did not play in any of the internationals against South Africa in 1955 but he captained the touring party in 1962 and played in the first three internationals before being forced to miss the final match through injury.
Arthur Smith also captained the 1960 Scotland rugby union tour of South Africa, the first major tour undertaken by a Home Union, and scored eight points in Scotland's 18-10 loss.
Smith played for a number of sides including Glasgow University, Cambridge University, London Scottish F C, Gosforth, Ebbw Vale, Edinburgh Wanderers and Barbarians FC (the latter on their famous 1957 Easter tour of Wales, when they beat Cardiff RFC 40-0). One of the clubs that Arthur played for was Ebbw Vale, in Wales, and it is rumoured that having been selected by the British Lions that he played a game for Ebbw Vale under another name because Lions were banned for playing after Easter.
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