Nigel Starmer-Smith
{{short description|England international rugby union player}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Nigel Starmer-Smith
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Nigel Christopher Starmer-Smith
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|12|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Cheltenham, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| weight =
| position = Scrum-half
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Oxford University RFC
| amatteam2 = Harlequins
| amatteam3 = Barbarian F.C.
| ru_amclubcaps =
| ru_amclubpoints =
| ru_amupdate =
| repteam1 = England
| repyears1 = 1969–1971
| repcaps1 = 7
| reppoints1 = 0
| ru_ntupdate =
| coachteams1 =
| coachyears1 =
| ru_coachupdate =
| occupation = teacher, commentator, journalist
| school = Magdalen College School, Oxford
| university = University College, Oxford
}}
Nigel Starmer-Smith (born 25 December 1944)[http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/player/7587.html Nigel Starmer Smith rugby player profile] Scrum.com is a British retired international rugby union player, British rugby journalist and commentator.
He was educated at Magdalen College School, Oxford and University College, Oxford. After university, Starmer-Smith briefly trained at a shipping management firm before choosing to focus on a career in rugby.[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=7530 Nigel Starmer-Smith at Rugby-heroes.net]
Playing career
Starmer-Smith played scrum-half for Oxford University (as a student at University College, Oxford) before progressing to senior club, Harlequins. He retired in 1975–76. 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.[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=7530 Nigel Starmer-Smith at Rugby-heroes.net]
Non-playing career and journalism
In the late 1960s he taught geography at Epsom College.
He edited Rugby World magazine and for 15 years introduced Rugby Special for the BBC. He also commentated on Olympic hockey for the BBC but had to make way for Barry Davies ahead of the 1988 Olympic Final.
During the 2003 World Cup in Australia, Starmer-Smith commentated for ITV Sport's coverage.
Starmer-Smith was the lead television commentator on the IRB Sevens World Series and also lead columnist for the global rugby sevens portal, UR7s.com during the 2000s.
On 28 March 2021 edition of the BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast show, his son revealed that Nigel had been suffering from frontotemporal dementia since around 2015 and was living in a nursing home.
References
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Category:Alumni of University College, Oxford
Category:Barbarian F.C. players
Category:English sports broadcasters
Category:England international rugby union players
Category:English rugby union commentators
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Harlequin F.C. players
Category:Oxford University RFC players
Category:People educated at Magdalen College School, Oxford
Category:Rugby union players from Cheltenham
Category:People with frontotemporal dementia