Dyne Fenton Smith (21 July 1890 – 28 August 1969) was an English rugby union international who played on two occasions for his country and was part of the first official British Isles team that toured South Africa in 1910.

Early life

Dyne Fenton Smith was born in 1890 in Hove,

Sussex Sussex (), from the Old English (), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English ...

, the eldest son of Charles Edward Smith, a stock jobber who although born in France was of British parentage, and his wife Caroline Constance Fenton from Goodmanham, Yorkshire. Dyne had a number of siblings, including younger brother Leonard and younger sister Enid.

Rugby career

Smith played his club rugby for

Richmond F.C. Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs (of any code). It fields teams in both men's and women's rugby; the men's first t ...

He made his Test debut for England vs Wales at Twickenham on 15 Jan 1910, in which game England were victorious. He played once again in the draw against Ireland on 12 February. This was his last game for England, but he was selected for the first official British Isles team that toured South Africa in 1910 (in that it was sanctioned and selected by the four Home Nations official governing bodies). He played on all three tests.

International matches played

*for England ** , 15 Jan 1910, at Twickenham. England won 11 - 6 ** , 12 Feb 1910, at Twickenham. draw 0 - 0 *for British Isles ** , 6 Aug 1910, at Johannesburg. South Africa won 14 - 10 ** , 27 Aug 1910, at Port Elizabeth. Great Britain won 8 - 3 ** , 3 Sep 1910, at Cape Town. South Africa won 21 - 5

First World War

Fenton Smith served in First World War as a lieutenant in the

Royal Fusiliers The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. It was known as the 7th Regiment of Foot until the Childers Reforms of 1881. The regiment served in many wars ...

. He served in France from 1915.British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

Personal life

Smith married in 1911 and for a time lived in Walton-on-Thames where he had a firm, Fenton Smith Bros.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Dyne F 1890 births 1969 deaths British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England British Army personnel of World War I England international rugby union players English rugby union players Richmond F.C. players Royal Fusiliers officers Rugby union locks Rugby union players from Brighton