- Date of Birth14 / 02 / 1999
- Lions Tours2021, 2025
- International CapsEngland (44 caps)
- Lions Origin SchoolsBrighton College
- Lions Origin ClubsHarlequins, Brighton College
After a season to remember for Harlequins, Marcus Smith earned a sensational late call-up to Warren Gatland’s British & Irish Lions squad in South Africa in 2021 and he will now head Down Under for his second Tour.
The fly-half got the chance to wear the famous red jersey for the first time having only made his senior debut appearance for England against the USA a week before finding out about his selection.
Born in the Philippines, Smith took up rugby at the age of seven while living in Singapore, first playing for Centaurs RFC, before the family settled in Brighton.
At the age of 18 years and 200 days, Smith was called upon to make his professional debut for Harlequins against rivals London Irish at Twickenham Stadium.
He was the top points-scorer in the 2020/21 Premiership season with 286, nearly 100 more than anyone else, and played a starring role as Quins beat Exeter 40-38 to become champions.
One week later, Smith made his full England debut starting at fly-half and scoring a try as England defeated the USA and was pinpoint accurate off the tee the week after against Canada.
He followed that up with selection for The British & Irish Lions as a result of worries about Finn Russell’s fitness.
The young fly-half didn’t disappoint. In his one appearance for the Lions, he starred as the tourists beat the DHL Stormers 49-3 and scored 14 points from seven conversions.
Since his first Lions selection, Smith has taken his tally of England caps to 46 and has also shown his versatility, getting starts at full-back since Steve Borthwick took over as his national coach.
He was part of the England team that made it all the way to the Rugby World Cup semi-final in France in 2023, while he played a big part in Harlequins reaching their first-ever Investec Champions Cup semi-final in 2024.
Following a stellar Autumn Nations Series last year, Smith switched between fly-half and full-back during the Guinness Six Nations, playing all but 18 minutes of the tournament.
Those performances have been enough to secure a place on his second Lions Tour, joining from the start this time around.