Keith Smith (rugby) facts for kids
| Birth name | Keith Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 19 November 1952 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Leeds, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 2 June 2006 (aged 53) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | St. Gemma's Hospice, Leeds, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Diane | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Craig, Gemma, Simon, Clare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby league career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Keith Smith (born 19 November 1952 – died 2 June 2006) was a famous English rugby player. He was special because he played two different types of rugby: rugby union and rugby league. This means he was a "dual-code international" player. He played both sports professionally in the 1970s.
In rugby union, he played as a centre (numbers 12 or 13) for the England national team. He also played for teams like Moortown RUFC and Roundhay RUFC. In rugby league, he played as a centre for the England national team and for the club Wakefield Trinity.
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About Keith Smith
Keith Smith was born in Leeds, England. Before becoming a professional rugby player, he worked as a postman. He also helped coach young rugby league players at East Leeds A.R.L.F.C.. Keith passed away in 2006 when he was 53 years old.
Playing Rugby Union
Keith Smith started his rugby union journey with Moortown RUFC. He then played for Yorkshire Colts, which is a team for younger players. Later, he joined Roundhay RUFC. His great skills at Roundhay led to him being chosen to play for the England national team.
He played his first game for Roundhay in 1972 against West Leeds Old Boys. He played a total of 85 games for Roundhay, with his last game in 1976. He also played 14 times for the Yorkshire team.
Playing for England (Rugby Union)
Keith's first game for England was a 12-12 draw against France. This match took place in Paris on 2 March 1974. In this game, he played alongside other talented players like Peter Squires and Alan Old.
He then went on to play for England against Wales at Twickenham two weeks later. He earned two more caps (appearances) against Wales in Cardiff in 1975. His final game for England was against Scotland at Twickenham.
Keith was known for his amazing "dummy" moves and his excellent passing skills. He could easily get through strong defences, which made him a very important centre. He later used these same skills when he switched from rugby union to rugby league.
Playing Rugby League
Keith Smith brought his rugby skills to rugby league when he joined Wakefield Trinity. He played as a centre for this club.
Challenge Cup Final
Keith Smith played in the 1979 Challenge Cup Final for Wakefield Trinity. This big game was against Widnes at Wembley Stadium in London on 5 May 1979. Wakefield Trinity lost the match 3-12, but it was a huge event with 94,218 fans watching.
Playing for England (Rugby League)
Keith also played for the England national team. He scored a try in England's 15-7 victory over Wales. This match was part of the 1979 European Rugby League Championship. It took place in Widnes on 16 March 1979.
