Arthur Smith (rugby union)

Arthur Robert Smith (23 January 1933 – 3 February 1975) was a Scotland international rugby union player.

[1] Originally from Castle Douglas in Kirkcudbrightshire in Scotland, he graduated in mathematics at Glasgow University and then gained a PhD at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

[3] Smith played for a number of sides including Glasgow University, Cambridge University, London Scottish F C, Gosforth, Ebbw Vale, Edinburgh Wanderers and Barbarians FC (the latter on their famous 1957 Easter tour of Wales, when they beat Cardiff RFC 40–0).

[4] His debut was in 1955, a Dark Age for Scottish rugby, as the national team had just lost seventeen tests in a row.

[2][4] Smith helped to break this losing streak by scoring a try in a 35–10 defeat of Wales at Murrayfield, which was probably one of the biggest upsets in post-war rugby.

Note 9: Michael Owen captained the Lions in the first tour game, the test vs. Argentina in Cardiff.