Former Scotland and Lions prop Tom Smith dies at 50

Former Scotland captain and British and Irish Lions prop Tom Smith has died on the age of fifty, Scottish Rugby stated on Wednesday.

Smith, who was capped 61 instances by his nation between 1997 and 2005 and performed in six assessments in a row with the British and Irish Lions, was recognized with stage 4 colorectal most cancers in 2019.

Part of the Scotland facet that received the ultimate Five Nations Championship in 1999, he was inducted into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame final November.

“Tom was one of the toughest and most skilful players I had the pleasure to call a teammate,” stated Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.

“He succeeded in probably the most difficult of environments and stored up a excessive degree of play nicely into his thirties.

“I am convinced that he will be regarded as one of our best ever players and his loss will be felt by all those who played with him or watched him for club and country over the years.”