Keith Smith (rugby player)
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| Keith Smith | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Keith Smith | ||
| Date of birth | 17th Nov 1952 | ||
| Place of birth | Leeds, Yorkshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 2nd June 2006 | ||
| Place of death | St. Gemma's Hospice, Leeds | ||
| Height | 6"3' | ||
| Rugby league career | |||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Professional clubs | Caps | (points) | |
| 1977-1979 | Wakefield Trinity | ||
| National teams | |||
| 1979 | England | 1 | |
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Inside and Outside Center | ||
| Clubs | |||
| 1972-76 | Roundhay | ||
| National team(s) | Caps | (points) | |
| 1974-75 | England | 4 | |
| Coaching career | |||
| East Leeds ARLFC, Easy Road. | |||
Keith Smith (1952-2006) was a former English rugby player; he excelled in playing centre. He first played with Yorkshire Colts rugby then advanced to Roundhay. It was from that side that he was selected to play in the English international ranks.
His Roundhay debut was against local rivals West Leeds Old Boys in 1972. The last of his eventual 85 games was played was against Gosforth in 1976 for the National Cup. He eventually played 14 times for Yorkshire.
His first English appearance was a disappointing 12-12 draw against France played at Parc des Princes in Paris on March 2, 1974. In this game his center pairing was Coventry’s Geoff Evans. Peter Squires and Alan Old also played alongside him, they were both from his Yorkshire club. The following day over 200 people, many rugby supporters returning from the match, were killed in an air crash over Northern France.
Smith then went on the play for England against Wales at Twickenham two weeks later and added two more caps against Wales in Cardiff in 1975 and then playing against Scotland at Twickenham the following game.
Smith’s trademark skill was an irresistible dummy and a beautiful pair of hands, while his ability to glide through the tightest defenses made him a valuable center.
He transferred those skills to rugby league when he joined Wakefield Trinity and in 1979 he also represented England at Rugby League against Wales scoring a try, before becoming a postman and spending time coaching junior rugby league in East Leeds. Keith was diagnosed with cancer, and died in 2006 at St. Gemma's Hospice, Leeds, aged 53.
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