Smith’s latest read quite an education

Oct 20 2009 by Nick Purewal, The Journal

IT makes complete sense that the man charged with founding Newcastle Falcons’ Academy should write a book on player development.

It is, though, typical of that man to propose the views of others at the expense of his own within that tome.

When rugby went professional and Sir John Hall stole a march in creating the Falcons, Ian Smith was handed a key role in setting up the youth talent division.

Along with Paul McKinnon, ex-Northumbria University rugby director Smith jumped on board and started building the dynasty which has produced the now much-vaunted procession of international stars.

Those academy days are long gone, but Smith still works as Education Officer at Kingston Park and will be well known as BBC Radio Newcastle’s rugby summariser.

No better pedigree was needed for his forthcoming book Rugby Union: The Men Who Make the Game.

However, rather than run the rule over those formative years, Smith quizzed a team of current world stars on what they think it takes to make it to the top.

Tapping the minds of ex-Falcons Toby Flood and Mathew Tait among those 15, Smith also tracked down former Northumbria skipper Martin Corry.

Yet he rated his interview with British Lions man of this summer’s South Africa series Jamie Roberts as the most inspiring.

“I think Jamie was the most enjoyable interview,” said Smith (pictured right), “mainly because I had never met him before and he was just such an impressive young man.

“To push on with the rigour of a medicine degree while holding down an international place in a fully-professional environment is a massive achievement.

“Despite his obvious drive he is just a lovely, normal lad who realises he has to get the balance right between rugby, rugby, rugby, outside interests and spending time with his friends.”

As much a chance to delve behind fraught headlines into the character of these household names, Smith uses their status as a teaching tool in itself.

He asks each man their take on that X-Factor which separates the good from the great.