{{Short description|South African rugby union player and coach (1970–2019)}} {{about|the South African rugby union player}} {{Use South African English|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Chester Williams | birth_name = Chester Mornay Williams | caption = Chester Williams in 2018 | birth_date = {{birth date|1970|8|8|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Paarl]], South Africa | death_date = {{death date and age|2019|9|6|1970|8|8|df=y}} | death_place = [[Cape Town]], South Africa | weight = {{convert|84|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} | image = Chester Williams 2018.jpg | ru_position = [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]] | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | ru_amupdate = | repteam1 = [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] | repyears1 = 1993–2000 | repcaps1 = 27 | reppoints1 = 70 | ru_ntupdate = | repsevensyears1 = 1993–2001 | repsevensteam1 = [[South Africa national rugby sevens team|South Africa]] | repsevenscomp1 = 11 | ru_sevensupdate = | province1 = [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] | province2 = [[Golden Lions]] | provinceyears1 = 1991–1998 | provinceyears2 = 1999 | provinceapps1 = 63 | provincepoints1 = - | ru_provinceupdate = | super1 = [[Cats (rugby)|Cats]] | superyears1 = 1999–2000 | superapps1 = 18 | superpoints1 = 35 | super14update = | coachteams1 = [[South Africa national rugby sevens team|South Africa 7's]] | coachteams2 = [[Cats (rugby)|Cats]] | coachteams3 = [[Uganda national rugby union team|Uganda]] | coachteams4 = [[Pumas (Currie Cup)|Mpumalanga Pumas]] | coachteams5 = [[Tunisia national rugby union team|Tunisia]] | coachteams6 = [[RC Timişoara|RCM Timişoara]] | coachyears1 = 2001–2003 | coachyears2 = 2004–2005 | coachyears3 = 2006 | coachyears4 = 2007-2006 | coachyears5 = 2007–2012 | coachyears6 = 2012–2013 | ru_coachupdate = | occupation = | spouse = | children = | relatives = [[Avril Williams]] (uncle) | school = | university = | medals = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [[rugby union]]}} {{Medal|Country|{{ru|RSA}}}} {{Medal|Competition|[[Rugby World Cup]]}} {{Medal|Gold|[[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995 South Africa]]|[[1995 Rugby World Cup squads|Squad]]}} }}
'''Chester Mornay Williams''' (8 August 1970 – 6 September 2019<ref>{{cite web |title=Springbok legend Chester Williams dies |url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/RugbyWorldCup2019/springbok-legend-chester-williams-dies-20190906 |website=Spiort24 |publisher=News24 |access-date=6 September 2019}}</ref>) was a South African [[rugby union]] player. He played as a winger for the [[South Africa national rugby union team]] (Springboks) from 1993 to 2000, most notably for the team that won the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]], which was hosted in South Africa. He was the only black player on the team. During the tournament he scored four tries for South Africa in its quarter-final match and also appeared in the semi-final and final. Domestically he played rugby for the [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] in the [[Currie Cup]].
After retiring, Williams pursued a career in coaching, including a spell with the [[South Africa national rugby sevens team]], the [[Uganda national rugby union team]], and the [[University of the Western Cape]]. He was portrayed by [[McNeil Hendricks]] in the 2009 [[Clint Eastwood]] film ''[[Invictus (film)|Invictus]]'', a biographical sports drama film about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and he also helped to coach [[Matt Damon]] and other actors for the rugby scenes used in the film. Williams died from a suspected heart attack on 6 September 2019 at the age of 49.
==Playing career==
===International=== Williams is best known as the star winger of the South Africa national Springbok team that won the 1995 Rugby World Cup against New Zealand and was nicknamed "The Black Pearl".<ref name="Sport24"/> Williams was selected in the initial squad, but had to withdraw due to injury. He was later called back into the squad and played in the quarter-final, scoring four tries,<ref name="Sport24"/> followed by the semi-final and the final against [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]], which South Africa won 15–12.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2019/09/06/former-south-africa-winger-1995-world-cup-winner-chester-williams/ |date=6 September 2019 |author=Daniel Schofield |title=Former South Africa winger and 1995 World Cup winner Chester Williams dies, aged 49 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>
Williams was {{convert|1.74|m|ftin|abbr=off}} tall with a playing weight of {{convert|84|kg|lb}}. He was the first non-white player to be included in the Springboks squad since [[Errol Tobias]] and his uncle [[Avril Williams]] in the early 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/chester-williams-1995-rugby-world-cup-hero-and-former-south-africa-wing-dies-at-49-1-4999477 |work=[[The Scotsman]] |title=Chester Williams, 1995 Rugby World Cup hero and former South Africa wing, dies at 49 |author=Patrick McPartlin |date=6 September 2019}}</ref> The selection of non-white players was not common in South Africa before 1992 because of the country's policy of [[apartheid]], and [[Rugby union and apartheid|there were separate governing bodies]] for whites, blacks, and coloureds.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hopkins |first=John |title=Rugby |year=1979 |isbn=0-304-30299-6 |page=20}}</ref>
He made his debut for the Springboks at the age of 23 against [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]] on 13 November 1993 in [[Buenos Aires]], a game that the Springboks went on to win 52–23 and in which he also scored a try. Williams was on the Springboks team that won the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]], notably scoring four tries against [[Samoa Rugby Football Union|Western Samoa]] in the quarter-finals. His Boks career, hampered by knee injuries in 1996 and 1997, ended with a 23–13 win against [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] on 26 November 2000 in [[Cardiff]]. In total he played 27 games for the Springboks, scoring 14 tries and a total of 70 points.<ref>{{citation |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/11670.html |work=[[ESPN]] |title=Chester Williams}}</ref> His honours included a Currie Cup win in 1999, with the [[Golden Lions]],<ref name="Sport24"/> a Tri-Nations title in 1998 (albeit that he only made two short appearances as substitute)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/chester-sas-most-famous-490773 |title=Chester SA's most famous?|work=[[Independent Online (South Africa)|Independent Online]]}}</ref> and the World Cup win in 1995.<ref name="Sport24">{{cite news |url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/RugbyWorldCup2019/wp-rugby-pay-tribute-to-icon-chester-williams-20190907 |title=WP Rugby pay tribute to 'icon' Chester Williams |date=7 September 2019 |work=[[News24 (website)|Sport24]]}}</ref>
===Provincial=== Domestically, Williams played rugby with the [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]], appearing 63 times between 1991 and 1998, wearing jersey number 11. He then went on to win the [[Currie Cup]] with the [[Golden Lions]] in 1999.<ref name="Sport24"/>
=== Test history === {{color box|gold}} [[1995 Rugby World Cup final|World Cup final]] {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! No. !! Opposition !! Result<br>(SA 1st) !! Position !! Tries !! Date !! Venue |- | 1. || {{ru|ARG}} || 52–23 || [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]] || align=center | 1 || 13 Nov 1993 || [[Estadio Arquitecto Ricardo Etcheverry|Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium]], Buenos Aires |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 2. || {{ru|ENG}} || 15–32 || Wing || || 4 Jun 1994 || [[Loftus Versfeld Stadium|Loftus Versfeld]], Pretoria |- | 3. || {{ru|ENG}} || 27–9 || Wing || || 11 Jun 1994 || [[Newlands Stadium|Newlands]], Cape Town |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 4. || {{ru|NZL}} || 14–22 || Wing || || 9 Jul 1994 || [[Carisbrook]], Dunedin |- | 5. || {{ru|NZL}} || 9–13 || Wing || || 23 Jul 1994 || [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]], Wellington |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 6. || {{ru|NZL}} || 18–18 || Wing || || 6 Aug 1994 || [[Eden Park]], Auckland |- | 7. || {{ru|ARG}} || 42–22 || Wing || align=center | 1 || 8 Oct 1994 || [[Boet Erasmus Stadium]], Port Elizabeth |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 8. || {{ru|ARG}} || 46–26 || Wing || align=center | 1 || 15 Oct 1994 || [[Ellis Park Stadium|Ellis Park]], Johannesburg |- | 9. || {{ru|SCO}} || 34–10 || Wing || align=center | 1 || 19 Nov 1994 || [[Murrayfield Stadium|Murrayfield]], Edinburgh |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 10. || {{ru|WAL}} || 20–12 || Wing || align=center | 1 || 26 Nov 1994 || [[Cardiff Arms Park]], Cardiff |- | 11. || {{ru|SAM}} || 60–8 || Wing || align=center | 2 || 13 Apr 1995 || Ellis Park, Johannesburg |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 12. || {{ru|SAM}} || 42–14 || Wing || align=center | 4 || 10 Jun 1995 || Ellis Park, Johannesburg |- | 13. || {{ru|FRA}} || 19–15 || Wing || || 17 Jun 1995 || [[Kings Park Stadium|Kings Park]], Durban |- bgcolor=gold | 14. || {{ru|NZL}} || 15–12 || Wing || || [[1995 Rugby World Cup final|24 Jun 1995]] || Ellis Park, Johannesburg |- | 15. || {{ru|ITA}} || 40–21 || Wing || || 12 Nov 1995 || [[Stadio Olimpico]], Rome |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 16. || {{ru|ENG}} || 24–14 || Wing || align=center | 2 || 18 Nov 1995 || [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]], London |- | 17. || {{ru|AUS}} || 14–13 || Substitute || || 18 July 1998 || [[Subiaco Oval]], Perth |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 18. || {{ru|NZL}} || 13–3 || Substitute || || 25 July 1998 || [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]], Wellington |- | 19. || {{ru|CAN}} || 51–18 || Substitute || || 10 Jun 2000 || [[Basil Kenyon Stadium]], East London |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 20. || {{ru|ENG}} || 18–13 || Substitute || || 17 Jun 2000 || Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |- | 21. || {{ru|ENG}} || 22–27 || Substitute || || 24 Jun 2000 || [[Free State Stadium]], Bloemfontein |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 22. || {{ru|AUS}} || 23–44 || Substitute || || 8 Jul 2000 || [[Colonial Stadium]], Melbourne |- | 23. || {{ru|NZL}} || 46–40 || Wing || align=center | 1 || 19 Aug 2000 || Ellis Park, Johannesburg |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 24. || {{ru|AUS}} || 18–19 || Wing || || 16 Aug 2000 || Kings Park, Durban |- | 25. || {{ru|ARG}} || 37–33 || Wing || || 12 Nov 2000 || [[Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti|River Plate Stadium]], Buenos Aires |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 26. || {{ru|IRE}} || 28–18 || Wing || || 19 Nov 2000 || [[Lansdowne Road]], Dublin |- | 27. || {{ru|WAL}} || 23–13 || Substitute || || 16 Nov 2000 || [[Millennium Stadium]], Cardiff |}
==Biography== In 2002, Williams released his controversial authorised biography, simply titled ''Chester'', in which he claimed that he was shunned by some of his team mates in the 1995 Springbok squad and was called racist names by [[James Small (rugby union)|James Small]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Keohane |first=Mark |title=Chester – A Biography of Courage |publisher=Don Nelson |year=2002 |isbn=1-86806-209-0}}</ref> though he later clarified, "When we were together as a team, the team-spirit was good. We partied together, we had fun together, we stuck by one another. Those other things happened while we were playing against one another in the Currie Cup or domestic competitions. But that's in the past now. We have all moved on and everybody's happy."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://gulfnews.com/mobile/sport/rugby/chester-williams-win-of-change-1.726022 |title=Chester Williams: Win of change |date=9 December 2010 |access-date=8 December 2013 |publisher=Gulfnews.com}}{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
[[Clint Eastwood]] directed ''[[Invictus (film)|Invictus]]'', which is about the 1995 Rugby World Cup and how it helped South Africa heal after years of [[apartheid]]. It features many scenes involving Chester, portrayed by [[McNeil Hendricks]], including his face on the side of an SAA aeroplane. It also showed several scenes showing black children in South Africa idolising him, although author [[John Carlin (journalist)|John Carlin]] has questioned the accuracy of this as Williams in fact identified as [[coloured]] rather than black. Carlin also wrote that during the team's visit to a township, [[Mark Andrews (rugby player)|Mark Andrews]] had attracted more attention than Williams as he was able to speak [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Invictus: better on Nelson Mandela than rugby |date=3 October 2013 |author=Alex von Tunzelmann |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Williams himself worked as one of the film's rugby coaches, alongside Dubai-based coach Rudolf de Wee, a childhood friend whom he recruited to the film. Williams and de Wee worked with the actors, including [[Matt Damon]], in recreating the games depicted in the film.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/man-who-taught-matt-damon-rugby-now-teaches-in-the-uae-1.488003 |title=Man who taught Matt Damon rugby now teaches in the UAE |date=19 March 2010 |author=Melanie Swan |work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]]}}</ref>
Williams was selected to carry the [[Olympic torch]] on behalf of South Africa on two occasions, the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in Athens, and the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in Rio de Janeiro.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/South-Africa/chester-to-carry-olympic-torch-for-sa-20160513 |work=[[News24 (website)|Sport24]] |date=13 May 2016 |title=Chester to carry Olympic torch for SA}}</ref>
In 2010, Williams completed the Absa [[Cape Epic]] mountain bike stage race, joining several former Springbok Rugby players who have also taken on the rugged challenge of the [[Cape Epic|Untamed African MTB Race]].<ref name="Daniel"/>
Williams died on 6 September 2019, at the age of 49, from a suspected heart attack.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/chester-williams-dead-south-africa-rugby-player-cause-of-death-nelson-mandela-1995-world-cup-a9095091.html |work=[[The Independent]] |title=Chester Williams death: South African rugby great dies of suspected heart attack, aged 49 |author=Jack de Menezes |date=6 September 2019}}</ref> He was the fourth player from the 1995 world-cup-winning side to die, after [[Ruben Kruger]], [[Joost van der Westhuizen]], and [[James Small (rugby union)|James Small]], the last having died two months before Williams.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC Sport]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49615522 |title=Chester Williams: South Africa World Cup winner dies aged 49 |date=6 September 2019}}</ref>
==Coaching career== In 2001 Williams was selected as the coach of the [[South Africa national rugby sevens team|South African sevens team]] that won bronze at the [[2002 Commonwealth Games results#Rugby sevens|2002 Commonwealth Games]] and ended runners up in the [[IRB Sevens World Series|World Sevens Series]]. He remained sevens coach until 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/chester-williams-chats-to-sport24-20171208-2 |work=[[News24 (website)|Sport24]] |title=Chester Williams chats to Sport24 |date=8 December 2017 |author=Grant Shub}}</ref>
Despite having almost no experience at coaching the fifteen-man code at any senior level, Williams was mentioned as one of the possible successors to Springbok coach [[Rudolf Straeuli]] after he resigned in 2003, but the job was given to [[Jake White]] in 2004.<ref name="Daniel">{{cite news |work=[[The South African]] |title=Springbok legend Chester Williams dies at age 49 |author=Luke Daniel |date=6 September 2019 |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/chester-williams-dead-at-age-49/}}</ref> He became coach of the [[Lions (Super Rugby)|Cats]] [[Super Rugby|Super 12]] team instead. He remained coach until July 2005 when he was fired after a series of poor results, when the Cats finished next-to-last in the 2005 super 12, achieving only one victory. However, in 2006, he was brought back into the South African coaching ranks as the head coach of the national "A" side (a developmental side for the Boks).<ref>[http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_49903.shtml News | Rugby News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709120122/http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_49903.shtml |date=9 July 2011 }}</ref> Also in 2006, he spent a successful few months as coach of the [[Uganda national rugby union team]], the Cranes.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[New Vision]] |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1140768/rugby-coach-chester-williams-quits |title=Rugby coach Chester Williams quits |date=15 September 2006}}</ref>
He was named as the new coach of the [[Pumas (Currie Cup)|Pumas]], the team representing [[Mpumalanga]] in the Currie Cup, on 7 September 2006. He signed a two-year deal with the team, effective 1 October 2006, but resigned as coach in mid-2007. When White stepped down as the national coach in 2008, Williams was again in the running to replace him, but the job instead went to [[Peter de Villiers]].<ref name="Daniel"/>
Williams lastly was head coach of [[University of the Western Cape]] in [[Varsity Rugby]]. Under his leadership UWC won the 2017 Varsity Shield competition.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/uwc-crowned-varsity-shield-champs/ |title=UWC crowned Varsity Shield champs |date=10 April 2017 |author=Mariette Adams |work=SA Rugby Mag}}</ref>
==See also== *[[List of South Africa national rugby union players#List|List of South Africa national rugby union players]] – Springbok no. '''589''' *[[List of South Africa national rugby sevens players]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=18438 | name=Chester Williams | date=10 March 2016}} *[http://en.espn.co.uk/southafrica/rugby/player/11670.html ESPN Profile]
{{Navboxes |title = Squads |list1 = {{1993 South Africa Rugby World Cup Sevens squad}} {{South Africa 1995 Rugby World Cup squad}} {{1998 South Africa Commonwealth Games Sevens squad}} {{2001 South Africa Rugby World Cup Sevens squad}} {{2002 South Africa Commonwealth Games Sevens squad}} }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Chester}} [[Category:1970 births]] [[Category:Rugby union wings]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]] [[Category:South African rugby union coaches]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Paarl]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Male rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Rugby sevens players at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]] [[Category:Commonwealth Games rugby sevens players for South Africa]] [[Category:2019 deaths]] [[Category:1995 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:20th-century South African sportsmen]] [[Category:SA Rugby Men's Player of the Year]]