Malvern RFC

Rudy Smith

It was with great sadness that the club learnt of the death last week of our former coach Rudy Smith.

Rudy joined the Malvern Club in 1995 following our Pilkington Shield success at Twickenham. He came to us with a fine rugby pedigree having been a regular member of the Moseley 1st XV in the 70’s & 80s where he earned the reputation of being a quick and elusive wing.

Following his retirement from rugby he took up coaching which included time at Moseley and Birmingham University before joining Malvern.

During his time as coach at Malvern the Club enjoyed unparalleled success over a period that was, without doubt, the most successful in the playing history of the Club.

1995 saw Malvern win the Midlands Division 1 league gaining promotion to Midlands West 1. The following year we were runners up in that league and two years later gained promotion to Midlands Division 2. In 2000 the Club won the Midlands Division 2 and gained promotion to Midlands Division 1. Finally in 2002 Malvern won the prestigious North Midlands Cup.

He will be remembered at Malvern not only as an outstanding coach whose contribution to our club was immense but as a delightful warm and engaging man whose smile would lift your soul and whose laughter would fill the room.

Our thoughts are with Rudy’s wife Evette and their children and grandchildren at this sad time. 

The funeral service is on Monday 21st March 2022.

Service
21st March 2022 at 10:30 am
St Augustines Church
Littleton Road Edgbaston B16 9J
Internment - Family only
21st March 2022 at 12:00 pm
Handsworth Cemetery Oxhill Road Handsworth B21 8JT

Wake
21st March 2022 at 12:00 pm
Bournville Rugby Club 79 Sandon Road Birmingham B17 8DT