Stephen James Smith (born 22 July 1951) is a former international

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

footballer and was educated at The King's School, Macclesfield. In 1980 he played in all four matches in England's Grand Slam victory and was called up as a replacement to the

1980 British Lions tour to South Africa In 1980 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured South Africa (including one game in Windhoek, South West Africa, the future Namibia). The tour was not a success for the Lions, as they lost the first three tests before salvaging some ...

but did not play a game; he sat on the bench for the final international. He became a fully-fledged

Lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...

on the 1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand when joining the tour as a replacement for the injured

Nigel Melville Nigel David Melville (born 6 January 1961) is a former England national rugby union team scrum half and captain and currently serves as Director of Professional Rugby for Rugby Football Union. Melville became the youngest player to captain E ...

. He played club rugby for Sale and was on the winning team at the

Glengarth Sevens {{primary sources, date=October 2011 The Glengarth Sevens was an annual 7 a-side rugby union tournament held at Davenport Rugby Club The first Glengarth Sevens was held in 1967 at Headlands Road, home of Davenport Rugby Club. Its celebrated its ...

whilst playing for

Loughborough University Loughborough University (abbreviated as ''Lough'' or ''Lboro'' for post-nominals) is a public research university in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It has been a university since 1966, but it dates back to 1909, when L ...

. In 1987 he founded the

Cotton Traders Cotton Traders is an English clothing company, specialising in rugby apparel and leisurewear, based in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. It was founded in 1987 by former England national rugby union team captains Fran Cotton and Steve Smi ...

clothing business with his former club and national teammate

Fran Cotton Francis Edward Cotton (born 3 January 1947) is a former rugby union prop forward who played for England and the British Lions. His clubs included Coventry R.F.C. and Sale. After retiring, he remained in rugby administration and founded a clo ...

. In 2008 Cotton Traders was forced to pull out of Burma after an investigation by the Burma Campaign UK uncovered the company was sourcing clothing from Burma.Boycott Success: Cotton Traders Pull Out Of Burma
burmacampaign.org.uk, 19 October 2008 Steve Smith was employed by ITV as a co-commentator with John Taylor of the Rugby World Cup, from 1991 to 2003. He was co-commentator to Taylor when England won the World Cup Final in 2003.

References

1951 births Living people English rugby union players British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England England international rugby union players Rugby union scrum-halves Loughborough Students RUFC players England international rugby sevens players Rugby union players from Stockport Lancashire County RFU players Sale Sharks players {{england-rugbyunion-bio-stub