Tom Smith

Tom Smith was one of the finest loosehead props of the modern era. As well as representing both Scotland and the British and Irish Lions on the international stage, he also played for a number of the world’s best domestic clubs, including Northampton Saints, Brive and Glasgow Warriors. 

Born to a Scottish mother and an English father in London, Tom Smith first started to excel at rugby during his school years. During rugby’s amateur era, he represented Dundee High School FP and Watsonians. 

Once the game turned professional in 1996, Tom Smith joined the Caledonia Reds and won the Scottish Inter-District Championship in the tournament’s inaugural season. The following season, he then represented the club in the Heineken Champions Cup.

When the Scottish rugby system restructured in 1998, Tom Smith joined Glasgow Warriors (who were then known as the Glasgow Caledonians). However, he only stayed with the club until 1999, when he joined CA Brive in France. After two seasons in France, he then moved back to Northampton Saints, where he stayed until his retirement in 2009. During this time, he played 174 times for the side.

However, although he enjoyed a stellar domestic career, Tom Smith is best known for his performances on the international stage. Between 1997 and 2005, he was capped 61 times by Scotland and became a firm favourite of the tartan army. During this time, he also played in six consecutive British and Irish Lions test matches.

After his rugby career ended in 2009, Tom Smith moved into coaching. During his coaching career, he was a forwards coach for both Edinburgh (2009-2012) and Lyon OU (2012-15).

Sadly, in 2019, it was announced that Tom Smith was suffering from stage four cancer. He passed away on 6 April 2022, aged 50.