Former Wallaby centre Phil Smith dies.
April 24, 2000

Former Wallaby Phil Smith, one half of Australian rugby's great centre combination with John Brass, has died aged 53 after a short illness.
The outside centre, who passed away Saturday, enjoyed a long partnership with Brass during a rugby career which included eight internationals for Australia from 1967 to 1969. The pair first teamed up as 11-year-olds with the Sydney City junior rugby league team and played for five years at Sydney Boys High School where they switched to rugby and joined the famous Randwick club together in 1965.
Smith was chosen for the 1966-67 Wallaby tour of Britain, France and North America after just four first grade games with Randwick. A dislocated shoulder suffered in a Sydney premiership grand final prevented Smith leaving with the Wallabies tour party, but he rejoined them partnering Brass in the sixth match against Cardiff.
Smith's Test debut came in 1967 against New Zealand at Wellington, again partnering Brass. They had more Tests together against New Zealand and France in 1968 and on the short tour of Ireland and Scotland in 1968-69 after which Brass switched to league. After playing another two Tests, Smith joined the league ranks in 1970, signing a four year contract with South Sydney. Smith was forced to retire in 1973 due to recurrent knee injuries after he made 25 first grade appearances for the Rabbitohs.

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