Hi °C | Lo °C Tom Smith, described by Lions scrum coach Graham Rowntree as the man who changed the face of propping, will retire from rugby at the end of the season.
The 37-year-old loose-head prop toured twice with the British and Irish Lions, playing all six Tests against South Africa in 1997 and Australia in 2001.
Smith made his name in that victorious 1997 tour when the Lions made life tough for the world champion Springboks with a smaller-than-average front row of Smith, Keith Wood and Paul Wallace.
In contrast, the Lions announced they will return to South Africa this summer with a pack of "beasts", and a front row featuring Gethin Jenkins Andrew Sheridan, Adam Jones, Euan Murray and Phil Vickery.
"We couldn't find any more unusually small props," joked Rowntree.
"Going back to that series, Tom Smith at that time changed propping with his carrying game and his scrummaging game. Paul Wallace handled Os du Randt particularly well and those selections went a long way to winning the series."
Smith was expected to be a midweek option for the Lions in 1997 having been selected with just three Scotland caps under his belt.
But he returned a victorious Test Lion and went on to play 61 times for Scotland, taking in two World Cups, before standing down from Test rugby in 2005.
Smith joined Northampton in 2001 after stints with Glasgow Caledonians, Watsonians and Brive.
"There have been plenty of highlights during my career and I have worked with some great coaches and players," Smith said.
"Obvious highlights are the 1997 Lions tour to South Africa and winning the 1999 Five Nations with Scotland."
