Arthur Smith
English rugby union and rugby league footballer
About Arthur Smith
Lived 1880 – 1946 (aged 65–66). Arthur Smith was a British rugby league player and rugby union player.
'Mad' Arthur Smith ( – 17 December 1946) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Yorkley RFC and Cinderford R.F.C., and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Oldham and Halifax, as a forward.
Playing career
International honours Arthur Smith won caps for England (RL) while at Oldham in 1906 against Other Nationalities, in 1908 against New Zealand, and Wales, in 1909 against Australia (3 matches), and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Oldham in 1908 against New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1908–09 against Australia (3 matches).
Challenge Cup Final appearances Arthur Smith played as a forward in Oldham's 3–17 defeat by Warrington in the 1907 Challenge Cup Final during the 1906–07 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 27 April 1907 in front of a crowd of 18,500, and played as a forward in the 5–8 defeat by Dewsbury in the 1912 Challenge Cup Final during the 1911–12 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 27 April 1912 in front of a crowd of 16,000.
County Cup Final appearances Arthur Smith played as a forward in Oldham's 9–10 defeat by Wigan in the 1908 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1908–09 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 19 December 1908.
Nickname Smith's sobriquet of 'Mad' was due to his forceful and enthusiastic style of play.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Arthur Smith's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Arthur Smith?
English rugby union and rugby league footballer
When was Arthur Smith born?
Arthur Smith was born in 1880.
When did Arthur Smith die?
Arthur Smith died on 17 December 1946.
What was Arthur Smith's occupation?
Arthur Smith was a rugby league player and rugby union player.
What nationality was Arthur Smith?
Arthur Smith was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Arthur Smith (rugby)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Arthur Smith. https://biography.guide/arthur-smith-rugby-league-player-1880/
MLA: "Arthur Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/arthur-smith-rugby-league-player-1880/.
Chicago: "Arthur Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/arthur-smith-rugby-league-player-1880/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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