Loose forward Rex Smith in action for Otago. PHOTO: ODT FILES
Rex Smith, a loose forward who played 44 games for Otago between 1971 and 1978, died in the UK, where he had long been based, on January 19 after a battle with cancer. He was 76.
Smith was best known in rugby terms for "the day Smithy played the Lions".
That day was best described by the late Brent Edwards, who wrote this in a special series in 2011 reflecting on 150 years of Otago sport:
"Rex Smith was a pint-sized flanker, even by Otago standards back in 1977.
He enjoyed a beer and a cigarette, and he was not the world's most enthusiastic trainer.
"But put him in a contest to be first to the loose ball against the best in the business and Smith's competitive instincts and native cunning were aroused.
"So it was on June 8, 1977, when Smith played the game of his life as Otago scored the only try but succumbed to Phil Bennett's boot in losing 12-7 to the Lions at Carisbrook.
"To say that Smith was inspirational is a bit like claiming Jonah Lomu scored some decent tries.
He was fearless, indomitable and heroic, this diminutive flanker, and, time after time, he beat the much bigger Lions loosies to the ball and was hammered for his efforts.
"Four times he went down injured and four times he rose groggily to his feet, shook his head to ensure it was still attached, and resumed his pursuit of the ball."
Smith’s efforts against the Lions were immortalised in a poem by Evening Star sports editor Steve Scoles.
The story goes that the All Blacks selectors were so impressed with Smith they considered giving him a black jersey, before deciding he was too small and plumping instead for Graham Mourie.
Smith, who played for Otago University, Southern and Alhambra, represented New Zealand Universities in 1973 before joining the London New Zealand club in the 1978-79
