Former England centre in Lions squad
Ollie Smith, the former England centre, will be among a star-studded Classic Lions squad travelling to Bermuda for next month’s World Rugby Classic.
The Lions will be hoping Smith, 33, can help inspire the side go one better than last year when they lost 17-3 to the Classic All Blacks at the North Field, National Sports Centre.
Smith, who retired in 2010 after an horrific knee injury while playing for Harlequins in the Aviva Premiership, won five caps for England and also represented the British Lions in 2005.
The former Leicester Tigers player will be joined by fellow newcomer Ceri Sweeney, who turned out for Wales on 35 occasions as a fly half, and signed for Pontypridd from Exeter Chiefs in May.
Several of the Classic Lions squad are no strangers to Bermuda, with Ben Breeze, the wing, David Corkery, the back row, and Bryan Rennie, the centre, all being named in the 29-man squad. Dafydd James returns once more as captain of a side managed by Allan Martin.
The World Rugby Classic runs from Sunday, November 8 to Saturday 14.
Classic Lions: Backs: Stuart Moffat (Scotland, Glasgow), Barry Davies (Wales, Llanelli Scarlets), Spencer Brown (England A, Bedford Blues), Ben Breeze (Wales, NG Dragons), Dafydd James (British Lions, Wales, Llanelli Scarlets), Ollie Smith (British Lions, England, Leicester Tigers), Bryan Rennie (Scotland A, Exeter Chiefs), Dermot O’Sullivan (Ireland A, Munster), Ceri Sweeney (Wales, Exeter Chiefs), Gareth Bowen (Wales A, Llanelli Scarlets), James Grindal (England A, Newcastle Falcons), Andrew Jenkins (Wales RL, Pontypridd).
Forwards: Tony Buckley (Ireland, Munster), Adam Black (NG Dragons, Worcester), James Cockle (London Irish, Richmond), Chris Fortey (England A, Worcester), Saul Nelson (Wales A, Bristol), Ian Gough (Wales, NG Dragons), Peter Sidoli (NG Dragons, Calvisano), Chris Wyatt (Wales, Llanelli Scarlets), Chris Bentley (Exeter Chiefs, Tasmin Marcos), Kieron Dawson (Ireland, Ulster), Scott Gray (Scotland, Northampton Saints), David Corkery (Ireland, Munster), Mark Blair (Ireland A, Ulster), Jamie Ringer (Wales, Cardiff Blues)
Management: Allan Martin (British Lions, Wales), Derek McAleese (Ireland, Ulster), JPR Williams (British Lions, Wales)
