Dick Smith was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in one test match in 1932 against England on the wing.

The Auckland Star said "the cricket was brighter than has been seen for some time past at Devonport, and this fact was in great measure due to the innings of R. Smith, who carried his bat for 100 dead.

[17] After a handful of low scores to start the following season he was dropped to the B team and seemingly played no further cricket for North Shore.

[18] He likely debuted for the side the same season in a Roope Rooster loss to Richmond where it was said that Smith, a promoted junior had a torrid time of it at fullback and must strengthen his tackling.

At the end of the season a small piece was written saying that Smith was welcomed back to the Devonport 4th Grade football (soccer) side.

He had apparently registered the highest goal count for the Devonport sixth grade team a couple of seasons earlier.

Smith is a tricky and clever player with a natural side-step which left tacklers frequently grabbing the air.

He scored tries in matches with Ellerslie-Otahuhu, Newton Rangers, Ponsonby United, and Marist Old Boys, as well as kicking several goals.

In the Roope Rooster final against Ponsonby on 19 September it was said that Smith along with Seagar "dazzled with their side-stepping and incisive tactical moves which invariably threw the defence awry".

[23] The Herald writer said that "it was a pity the selectors did not give Smith an opportunity of playing as five-eighths with Davidson and List for Auckland against Northland".

[31] In mid July Smith was chosen in a trial match to assist with the selection of the New Zealand team to play the touring England side.

[34] Following the inter-island match and trial game the New Zealand team was named with Smith in the reserves for the first test by the selectors (Thomas McClymont, Archie Ferguson, and Jim Sanders).

[36] It was then reported that P. Hart from the West Coast had not been able to recover from a leg injury that he sustained in the Inter-island match and so Smith replaced him in the starting side at wing.

[39] The defence of Smith who was playing out of his regular position was also questioned along with that of his Devonport teammates Len Scott and Albert Laing "for neither our wingers nor the full-back were equal to the occasion.

Scott, who was expected to make the "come back" he made against Parkin’s side in 1928, showed no initiative and Smith, well, he wilted.

[40] For the second test all three were dropped and replaced by Steve Watene, Bert Cooke (who was moving from five eighth), and Ben Davidson.

[43] Smith was chosen in an outside five eighth position alongside Edwin Abbott, with Wilf Hassan at half back.

They were unfortunate to lose captain Lou Hutt to a compound fracture of his thumb early in the match and had to play the remainder of the game with 12 players.

The first was a Roope Rooster semi final loss for Devonport against Marist where he contributed 10 of his sides points in their 19-18 defeat.

The season began with the annual club meeting for Devonport at which Smith was presented with Mr. Kiely's gold medal for the most individual points scored in the senior side.

[52] With Smith out injured and the first grade title on the line the Devonport coach Allan Seagar came out of retirement to play.

[54] Despite the suggestion that he would miss the rest of the season he was named to play in a challenge round match against Newton on 26 August however he ultimately didn't take the field.

Then on 6 September the New Zealand Herald reported that "R. Smith, the Devonport five eighths, who broke a bone in his leg during championship matches, has made a good recovery.

Smith did not play at all in the 1937 season, then in 1938 he returned to Devonport who had changed their name back to their original North Shore Albions which they had been prior to their merger with the Sunnyside club.

[82] It was reported that on the night of 22 December 1936, Smith was found in an illegal gaming premises known as the Albert Club on Wyndham Street.

In his death notices his name was variously given as "Walter" and "Walton" with one stating that he was the "dearly beloved husband of Clara Evelyn Smith, and father of Fred, Dick and Jack, age 56 years.

The "master of the vessel, Angus Matheson, said that he saw Smith deliberately dive into the sea when the ship was about 150 yds, from the Portland wharf, but with the strong tide against him he was unable to do so, and sank before help could reach him".

[90] He was living at 9 Holiday Road, Milford, Auckland at the time and left behind a wife (Claire/Clara Isabell) and three daughters (Beverley, Valerie, and Shirley).

[91] His funeral was held at Morris' Chapel, Anne Street, Devonport on 27 December and he was buried at O'Neill's Point Cemetery.

He was cremated by Watney Sibun's Sons Ltd on 6 July at Purewa Cemetery in Meadowbank, Auckland with his ashes returned.