The Loosehead prop of Scotland Rugby Tom Smith has died of colon cancer at 50. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2019.
Scotland Prop Tom Smith sadly passed away aged 50. According to a Twitter post by Scottish Rugby, “Tom was a hugely respected player,”
“He will be greatly missed by everyone in Scotland and throughout the game. The Tweet added, “all our thoughts are with Smith’s family and friends.”
Tom Smith Scotland Rugby Died From Cancer Age 50
Tom Smith died of colon cancer at the age of 59. Smith was regarded as one of the country’s best players.
Tom was struggling with stage four colon cancer before 2019.
Tom was a crucial figure in Scotland’s 1999 Five Nations title and the Lions’ 1997 series victory over world champions, South Africa.
Sir Ian McGeechan, his revered coach, described him as “the greatest Scotland player of the professional era.”
Smith traveled from his home in France to Edinburgh in November to be inducted into Scottish Rugby’s Hall of Fame.
Before Scotland’s autumn loss, he presented the match ball to South Africa at Murrayfield.
Tom captained his country and was a hugely influential figure at the Brive and Northampton Saints club until his retirement in 2009.
Smith coached at Edinburgh and Lyon in France before retiring from the game in November 2019 after being diagnosed with cancer.
He was the last Scot to start a Lions Test match until the 2021 tour of South Africa, having been chosen for six in a row between 1997 and 2001.
More On Tom Smith’s Wife & Family.
Tom Smith’s wife, Zoe Smith, is a wonderful wife and great mother of three: Amelie Smith, Angus Smith, and Edward Smith.
Smith is the great-grandson of Scottish international footballer Jack Bell, born to a Scottish mother and an English father.
Tom’s father died when he was only six years old.
He was educated at Emanuel School in London before boarding at Rannoch School, a now-defunct Scottish school on the banks of Loch Rannoch.
The science teacher at his school helped him hone his rugby skills.
Smith earned his first Scotland cap in a Calcutta Cup match against England at Twickenham in 1997.
Despite only having three caps, coach Ian McGeechan included him in the squad for the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
Many people were surprised when Smith was chosen to start all three test matches alongside Paul Wallace and Keith Wood rather than the other touring props, Jason Leonard and Graham Rowntree.
His strong scrummaging and good hands, and many other great team performances ensured that the Lions won the series 2–1 over their much more highly favored hosts.