Nigel Starmer-Smith
| Full name | Nigel Christopher Starmer-Smith | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 December 1944 | ||
| Place of birth | Cheltenham, England | ||
| School | Magdalen College School, Oxford | ||
| University | University College, Oxford | ||
| Occupation(s) | teacher, commentator, journalist | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Scrum-half | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| Oxford University RFC Harlequins Barbarian F.C. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1969–1971 | England | 7 | (0) |
Nigel Starmer-Smith (25 December 1944)[1] is a former international rugby union player, who is now a British rugby journalist and commentator.
Playing career
Starmer-Smith played scrum-half for Oxford University (as a student at University College, Oxford) before progressing to senior club, Harlequins. During the 1966-67 season, while still at Oxford he was selected to play for British rugby's foremost invitational team the Barbarians. In 1969 he was selected to play for England against a touring South Africa side.[2]
In the late 1960s he taught geography at Epsom College.
Journalism
He has edited Rugby World magazine and for 15 years introduced Rugby Special for the BBC. He has also commentated on Olympic hockey for the BBC but had to make way for Barry Davies for the 1988 Olympic Final.
During the 2003 World Cup in Australia, Starmer-Smith commentated for ITV Sport's coverage.
Starmer-Smith has been the lead television commentator on the IRB Sevens World Series for a number of years. He is also lead columnist for the global rugby sevens portal, UR7s.com.