Tom Smith: 'Scotland's quiet colossus never more extraordinary than in face of terminal illness'

Tom Smith died of colon cancer at 50. He was a front row player for Scotland and a member of the Lions. He played against South Africa at Murrayfield last autumn. Jason Leonard called him a 'quiet colossus' who was extraordinary in the face of terminal illness.

Tom Smith died of epilepsy on Wednesday. He played 61 times for Scotland and six consecutive Lions Tests between 1997 and 2001. Jim Telfer, Keith Wood, Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio are among his former team-mates. He was only 18 when he suffered his first epileptic seizure. His epilepsy was not something he shared with other people. Smith wanted to be judged on his performance on the field. The players he played with were devastated by his death. They are writing a book on 1997 Lions. It is called 'The Greats: The Great British Rugby Team'. It will be released in English and in French.

Tom Smith died of terminal illness. He was a member of the Lions front row in 1997. Smith was small but very strong. Keith Wood and Paul Wallace remember him as a player who was selfless. He played for Scotland for eight years. The tributes are flooding in. Tom Smith is a great player and a tremendous man. His death is being mourned. It is not surprising that he is remembered as such. There is an element of fear in sportsmanship. This is what drives many players. For Smith, it drove him on. he was afraid of failure. and he kept the fear under wraps.