Brian Smith, an Australian rugby union coach and former international player, died at 59 on August 12, 2026, and The Sydney Morning Herald reported cancer as the cause without specifying the type.
Smith made his debut for Australia against South Korea in 1987, scoring 17 points, including a try. He played at the inaugural Rugby World Cup, including Australia’s quarterfinal win over Ireland. After studying at Oxford University, he qualified to represent Ireland and played for the national team in 1990 and 1991. In 1991, he switched to rugby league, playing for Balmain Tigers through 1993 and Eastern Suburbs in 1994.
In 2005, Smith became London Irish’s director of rugby, the club’s senior rugby and coaching leader. He helped the club move from the league’s lowest try total to its highest, qualify for the Heineken Cup, the leading European club competition at the time, and finish among England’s top four. In 2008, London Irish reached the competition’s semifinals for the first time.
Smith left London Irish in 2008 to become England’s attack coach under manager Martin Johnson, overseeing the team’s attacking play. After England beat France 34-10 in 2009, Johnson said in remarks published by The Guardian that the team’s attacking performance reflected Smith’s work. After England’s 2011 World Cup campaign, Smith resigned and did not seek a contract renewal.
