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Former Ireland International Smith Dies, Aged 59
On Wednesday, Brian Smith, a dual international who played rugby for Australia and Ireland and later coached England, died from cancer at age 59.
Following his international rugby union career, Smith switched to rugby league, playing 37 appearances for the Balmain Tigers before pursuing coaching roles with Bath and the Ricoh Black Rams.
In recent years, Smith served as Head of Sport and Director of Rugby at Scots College in Sydney, where he mentored current Wallabies star Angus Bell and other emerging Australian players.
Bell paid tribute to his former coach on Wednesday, telling reporters, "Fair to say that I wouldn't have been anywhere near as good without him," and called Smith "a great bloke, a great father, and a great coach."
Scots College principal Ian Lambert confirmed Smith had been battling an "aggressive" cancer in recent months, and the school community extended condolences to his wife, Lisa, and three children.