Brian Smith, a celebrated dual-code rugby star who played six Tests for the Australian Wallabies and nine for Ireland, has died from cancer at the age of 59.

Smith's rugby career included playing 43 games in the NRL for Balmain and Eastern Suburbs between 1991 and 1994. He also coached rugby union across several countries and served as Australia's sevens coach. Most recently, he was the Head of Sport at Scots College in Sydney, where he mentored many players including Wallabies prop Angus Bell.

Bell paid tribute to Smith, describing him as "a great bloke, a great father and a great coach." Speaking from the Wallabies camp in Townsville on Wednesday, Bell said, "He was coaching at the Scots school and coached a lot of us coming through the grades and I just wanted to say it's a really sad time."

Smith made his Wallabies debut in 1987 under coach Alan Jones, partnering with Nick Farr-Jones in the halves and scoring 18 points in a 65-18 win over South Korea. Former Wallabies coach Jones once described Smith as one of the world's most gifted players.

Wallabies also extended their condolences, with Bell stating, "We're wishing the best for his wife and kids. He's an avid rugby person and helped a lot of individuals in the squad and in the Wallabies today, so just sending my condolences from both the Wallabies and myself."

Brian Smith had been very unwell in recent months, battling an aggressive form of cancer.

Sources