Former Australian test player dies 

Posted: Monday April 24, 2000 11:30 AM


SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Outside center Phil Smith, who played eight rugby union test matches for Australia from 1967 to 1969, died Saturday after a short illness, his family said Monday. 

Smith, 53, was known for his devastating center combination with John Brass. 

The pair first teamed up as 11-year-olds with the Sydney City Schoolboys rugby league team and played for five years at Sydney Boys High School where they switched to rugby and joined the 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 stopped Smith from leaving with the Wallabies' tour party but he rejoined them in time for the sixth match against Cardiff, partnering Brass. 

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 rugby league. 

After playing another two tests, Smith joined the league ranks in 1970, signing a four-year contract with South Sydney. 

He was forced to retire in 1973 due to recurrent knee injuries after he made 25 first-grade appearances for the Rabbitohs.