Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Australian rugby star Brian Smith has died at age 59, after battling an aggressive form of cancer.
The dual-code player represented the Wallabies six times in 1987 before switching allegiances to Ireland, representing them on nine occasions.
Smith also appeared at NRL level 43 times for the Balmain Tigers and the Eastern Suburbs throughout the early 90s.
The former half-back most recently served as Head of Sport at Scots College in Sydney.
“Brian had been very unwell in recent months and was battling an aggressive cancer,” Scots College principal Dr Ian PM Lambert wrote to the school community.
“This is very sad news for our College community and I know it will come as a shock to many of you who knew and worked closely with him.
“Our immediate thoughts are with Brian’s wife Lisa, his daughters Ruby and Santana, and his son Chilli.”
After his playing career, Smith went on to coach almost 700 games of professional rugby throughout multiple countries, including England and Japan.
Wallabies loosehead prop Angus Bell said “it’s a really sad time”.
“He was coaching at the Scotts School and coached a lot of us coming through the grades,” Bell said.
“We’re wishing the best for his wife and kids.
“He was an avid rugby person, and helped a lot of individuals in the squad and in the Wallabies today, so sending condolences from the Wallabies and myself.
“He was my coach in GPS and New South Wales twos. I was 16, and it’s fair to say that I wouldn’t have played anywhere near as good without him.
“Me, Jeremy Williams, and Will Harris from the Force were really close with him, and he was he was a great bloke, a great father, and a great coach, so it’s very sad.”
