 Smyth first played for Ireland in 1908, in the Home Nations Championship against England at Richmond's Athletic Ground.Although Ireland lost the match 13-3 Smyth was back for the next game of the tournament against Scotland.With the match played at Lansdowne Road, the Irish beat the Scottish team in a game which was notable as the last game for Scotland's David Bedell-Sivright, the British Isle's captain of the 1904 campaign to Australia and New Zealand.