Unusual Rugby record

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 42

Unusual Rugby record

It sounds like a trick question in a Rugby quiz — name the player who made a solitary appearance for his union seven years before becoming an All Black?

There was, in fact, such a man: Mr B. F. Smyth, of Christchurch, who died a few days ago at the age of 81. His only game for Canterbury was against Otago at Carisbrook on September 4, 1915. And it was not one for the Canterbury players to remember —they were drubbed, 30-3.

After war service with the New Zealand Engineers—he was mentioned in dispatches in France—Mr Smyth returned to Christchurch and became a member of the powerful Marist Brothers’ Old Boys team, which won the senior championship from 1919 to 1923.

Although “The Weekly Press” named him as one of the best four forwards in Canterbury in 1921, he did not win a place in the provincial team. But continued good form in 1922 led to him being nominated as a hooker

for the South Island team. He was chosen for the side—which beat North, 9-B—and gained a place in the All Black team, which was chosen immediately afterwards.

Mr Smyth toured Australia with such notable players as E. A. Bellis, M. J. Brownlie, M. F. Nicholls and J. Steel. He played three matches for New Zealand, but left for the West Coast soon after his return and did not play for Canterbury. His retirement from Rugby occurred at about the same time as the Marist club went

over to the league code, after the Payne Trophy row in 1923.

Mr Smyth is warmly remembered by Messrs H. F. Mullins and R. Kirwan, both of whom played for Marist and Canterbury in the early 19205, and by the All Black half-back, Mr W. C. Dailey, who played against him for Old Boys. All three said he was a fine man and a fine player. But. looking at the situation 50 years later, it seems a mystery why Mr Smyth’s services were not in demand by the Canterbury selectors.