# Chester Williams

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South African rugby union player and coach (1970–2019)

This article is about the South African rugby union player. For other uses, see [Chester Williams (disambiguation)](/source/Chester_Williams_(disambiguation)).

Rugby player

Chester Williams Chester Williams in 2018 Born Chester Mornay Williams (1970-08-08)8 August 1970 Paarl, South Africa Died 6 September 2019(2019-09-06) (aged 49) Cape Town, South Africa Weight 84 kg (13 st 3 lb) Notable relative Avril Williams (uncle) Rugby union career Position Wing Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1991–1998 Western Province 63 (-) 1999 Golden Lions Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 1999–2000 Cats 18 (35) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1993–2000 South Africa 27 (70) National sevens team Years Team Comps 1993–2001 South Africa 11 Coaching career Years Team 2001–2003 South Africa 7's 2004–2005 Cats 2006 Uganda 2007-2006 Mpumalanga Pumas 2007–2012 Tunisia 2012–2013 RCM Timişoara Medal record Men's rugby union Representing South Africa Rugby World Cup 1995 South Africa Squad

**Chester Mornay Williams** (8 August 1970 – 6 September 2019[1]) was a South African [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) player. He played as a winger for the [South Africa national rugby union team](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team) (Springboks) from 1993 to 2000, most notably for the team that won the [1995 Rugby World Cup](/source/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](/source/Western_Province_(rugby_team)) in the [Currie Cup](/source/Currie_Cup).

After retiring, Williams pursued a career in coaching, including a spell with the [South Africa national rugby sevens team](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_sevens_team), the [Uganda national rugby union team](/source/Uganda_national_rugby_union_team), and the [University of the Western Cape](/source/University_of_the_Western_Cape). He was portrayed by [McNeil Hendricks](/source/McNeil_Hendricks) in the 2009 [Clint Eastwood](/source/Clint_Eastwood) film *[Invictus](/source/Invictus_(film))*, 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](/source/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".[2] 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,[2] followed by the semi-final and the final against [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team), which South Africa won 15–12.[3]

Williams was 1.74 metres (5 feet 9 inches) tall with a playing weight of 84 kilograms (185 lb). He was the first non-white player to be included in the Springboks squad since [Errol Tobias](/source/Errol_Tobias) and his uncle [Avril Williams](/source/Avril_Williams) in the early 1980s.[4] The selection of non-white players was not common in South Africa before 1992 because of the country's policy of [apartheid](/source/Apartheid), and [there were separate governing bodies](/source/Rugby_union_and_apartheid) for whites, blacks, and coloureds.[5]

He made his debut for the Springboks at the age of 23 against [Argentina](/source/Argentina_national_rugby_union_team) on 13 November 1993 in [Buenos Aires](/source/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](/source/1995_Rugby_World_Cup), notably scoring four tries against [Western Samoa](/source/Samoa_Rugby_Football_Union) in the quarter-finals. His Boks career, hampered by knee injuries in 1996 and 1997, ended with a 23–13 win against [Wales](/source/Wales_national_rugby_union_team) on 26 November 2000 in [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff). In total he played 27 games for the Springboks, scoring 14 tries and a total of 70 points.[6] His honours included a Currie Cup win in 1999, with the [Golden Lions](/source/Golden_Lions),[2] a Tri-Nations title in 1998 (albeit that he only made two short appearances as substitute)[7] and the World Cup win in 1995.[2]

### Provincial

Domestically, Williams played rugby with the [Western Province](/source/Western_Province_(rugby_team)), appearing 63 times between 1991 and 1998, wearing jersey number 11. He then went on to win the [Currie Cup](/source/Currie_Cup) with the [Golden Lions](/source/Golden_Lions) in 1999.[2]

### Test history

[World Cup final](/source/1995_Rugby_World_Cup_final)

No. Opposition Result (SA 1st) Position Tries Date Venue 1. Argentina 52–23 Wing 1 13 Nov 1993 Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires 2. England 15–32 Wing 4 Jun 1994 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 3. England 27–9 Wing 11 Jun 1994 Newlands, Cape Town 4. New Zealand 14–22 Wing 9 Jul 1994 Carisbrook, Dunedin 5. New Zealand 9–13 Wing 23 Jul 1994 Athletic Park, Wellington 6. New Zealand 18–18 Wing 6 Aug 1994 Eden Park, Auckland 7. Argentina 42–22 Wing 1 8 Oct 1994 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth 8. Argentina 46–26 Wing 1 15 Oct 1994 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 9. Scotland 34–10 Wing 1 19 Nov 1994 Murrayfield, Edinburgh 10. Wales 20–12 Wing 1 26 Nov 1994 Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff 11. Samoa 60–8 Wing 2 13 Apr 1995 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 12. Samoa 42–14 Wing 4 10 Jun 1995 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 13. France 19–15 Wing 17 Jun 1995 Kings Park, Durban 14. New Zealand 15–12 Wing 24 Jun 1995 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 15. Italy 40–21 Wing 12 Nov 1995 Stadio Olimpico, Rome 16. England 24–14 Wing 2 18 Nov 1995 Twickenham, London 17. Australia 14–13 Substitute 18 July 1998 Subiaco Oval, Perth 18. New Zealand 13–3 Substitute 25 July 1998 Athletic Park, Wellington 19. Canada 51–18 Substitute 10 Jun 2000 Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London 20. England 18–13 Substitute 17 Jun 2000 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 21. England 22–27 Substitute 24 Jun 2000 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 22. Australia 23–44 Substitute 8 Jul 2000 Colonial Stadium, Melbourne 23. New Zealand 46–40 Wing 1 19 Aug 2000 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 24. Australia 18–19 Wing 16 Aug 2000 Kings Park, Durban 25. Argentina 37–33 Wing 12 Nov 2000 River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires 26. Ireland 28–18 Wing 19 Nov 2000 Lansdowne Road, Dublin 27. Wales 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](/source/James_Small_(rugby_union)),[8] 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."[9]

[Clint Eastwood](/source/Clint_Eastwood) directed *[Invictus](/source/Invictus_(film))*, which is about the 1995 Rugby World Cup and how it helped South Africa heal after years of [apartheid](/source/Apartheid). It features many scenes involving Chester, portrayed by [McNeil Hendricks](/source/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](/source/John_Carlin_(journalist)) has questioned the accuracy of this as Williams in fact identified as [coloured](/source/Coloured) rather than black. Carlin also wrote that during the team's visit to a township, [Mark Andrews](/source/Mark_Andrews_(rugby_player)) had attracted more attention than Williams as he was able to speak [Xhosa](/source/Xhosa_language).[10] 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](/source/Matt_Damon), in recreating the games depicted in the film.[11]

Williams was selected to carry the [Olympic torch](/source/Olympic_torch) on behalf of South Africa on two occasions, the [2004 Summer Olympics](/source/2004_Summer_Olympics) in Athens, and the [2016 Summer Olympics](/source/2016_Summer_Olympics) in Rio de Janeiro.[12]

In 2010, Williams completed the Absa [Cape Epic](/source/Cape_Epic) mountain bike stage race, joining several former Springbok Rugby players who have also taken on the rugged challenge of the [Untamed African MTB Race](/source/Cape_Epic).[13]

Williams died on 6 September 2019, at the age of 49, from a suspected heart attack.[14] He was the fourth player from the 1995 world-cup-winning side to die, after [Ruben Kruger](/source/Ruben_Kruger), [Joost van der Westhuizen](/source/Joost_van_der_Westhuizen), and [James Small](/source/James_Small_(rugby_union)), the last having died two months before Williams.[15]

## Coaching career

In 2001 Williams was selected as the coach of the [South African sevens team](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_sevens_team) that won bronze at the [2002 Commonwealth Games](/source/2002_Commonwealth_Games_results#Rugby_sevens) and ended runners up in the [World Sevens Series](/source/IRB_Sevens_World_Series). He remained sevens coach until 2003.[16]

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](/source/Rudolf_Straeuli) after he resigned in 2003, but the job was given to [Jake White](/source/Jake_White) in 2004.[13] He became coach of the [Cats](/source/Lions_(Super_Rugby)) [Super 12](/source/Super_Rugby) 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).[17] Also in 2006, he spent a successful few months as coach of the [Uganda national rugby union team](/source/Uganda_national_rugby_union_team), the Cranes.[18]

He was named as the new coach of the [Pumas](/source/Pumas_(Currie_Cup)), the team representing [Mpumalanga](/source/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](/source/Peter_de_Villiers).[13]

Williams lastly was head coach of [University of the Western Cape](/source/University_of_the_Western_Cape) in [Varsity Rugby](/source/Varsity_Rugby). Under his leadership UWC won the 2017 Varsity Shield competition.[19]

## See also

- [List of South Africa national rugby union players](/source/List_of_South_Africa_national_rugby_union_players#List) – Springbok no. **589**

- [List of South Africa national rugby sevens players](/source/List_of_South_Africa_national_rugby_sevens_players)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Springbok legend Chester Williams dies"](https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/RugbyWorldCup2019/springbok-legend-chester-williams-dies-20190906). *Spiort24*. News24. Retrieved 6 September 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sport24_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sport24_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Sport24_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Sport24_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Sport24_2-4) ["WP Rugby pay tribute to 'icon' Chester Williams"](https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/RugbyWorldCup2019/wp-rugby-pay-tribute-to-icon-chester-williams-20190907). *[Sport24](/source/News24_(website))*. 7 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Daniel Schofield (6 September 2019). ["Former South Africa winger and 1995 World Cup winner Chester Williams dies, aged 49"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2019/09/06/former-south-africa-winger-1995-world-cup-winner-chester-williams/). *[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Patrick McPartlin (6 September 2019). ["Chester Williams, 1995 Rugby World Cup hero and former South Africa wing, dies at 49"](https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/chester-williams-1995-rugby-world-cup-hero-and-former-south-africa-wing-dies-at-49-1-4999477). *[The Scotsman](/source/The_Scotsman)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Hopkins, John (1979). *Rugby*. p. 20. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-304-30299-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-304-30299-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Chester Williams"](http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/11670.html), *[ESPN](/source/ESPN)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Chester SA's most famous?"](https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/chester-sas-most-famous-490773). *[Independent Online](/source/Independent_Online_(South_Africa))*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Keohane, Mark (2002). *Chester – A Biography of Courage*. Don Nelson. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-86806-209-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-86806-209-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Chester Williams: Win of change"](http://gulfnews.com/mobile/sport/rugby/chester-williams-win-of-change-1.726022). Gulfnews.com. 9 December 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2013.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Alex von Tunzelmann (3 October 2013). "Invictus: better on Nelson Mandela than rugby". *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Melanie Swan (19 March 2010). ["Man who taught Matt Damon rugby now teaches in the UAE"](https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/man-who-taught-matt-damon-rugby-now-teaches-in-the-uae-1.488003). *[The National](/source/The_National_(Abu_Dhabi))*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Chester to carry Olympic torch for SA"](https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/South-Africa/chester-to-carry-olympic-torch-for-sa-20160513). *[Sport24](/source/News24_(website))*. 13 May 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Daniel_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Daniel_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Daniel_13-2) Luke Daniel (6 September 2019). ["Springbok legend Chester Williams dies at age 49"](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/chester-williams-dead-at-age-49/). *[The South African](/source/The_South_African)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Jack de Menezes (6 September 2019). ["Chester Williams death: South African rugby great dies of suspected heart attack, aged 49"](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). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Chester Williams: South Africa World Cup winner dies aged 49"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49615522). *[BBC Sport](/source/BBC_Sport)*. 6 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Grant Shub (8 December 2017). ["Chester Williams chats to Sport24"](https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/chester-williams-chats-to-sport24-20171208-2). *[Sport24](/source/News24_(website))*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [News | Rugby News](http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_49903.shtml) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110709120122/http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_49903.shtml) 9 July 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Rugby coach Chester Williams quits"](https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1140768/rugby-coach-chester-williams-quits). *[New Vision](/source/New_Vision)*. 15 September 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Mariette Adams (10 April 2017). ["UWC crowned Varsity Shield champs"](https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/uwc-crowned-varsity-shield-champs/). *SA Rugby Mag*.

## External links

- ["SA Rugby Player Profile – Chester Williams"](http://www.sarugby.co.za/playerprofile.aspx?id=18438&fullview=true). *South African Rugby Union*. Retrieved 10 March 2016.

- [ESPN Profile](http://en.espn.co.uk/southafrica/rugby/player/11670.html)

Squads v t e South Africa Sevens – 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens Squad Chris Badenhorst Jannie Claassens André Joubert Dieter Kriese Ruben Kruger Dick Muir Dion O'Cuinneagain Jacques Olivier Joost van der Westhuizen Chester Williams Coach Gysie Pienaar v t e South Africa squad – 1995 Rugby World Cup (1st title) Forwards Andrews Brink Dalton Drotské Du Randt Hurter Kruger Otto Pagel Pienaar (c) Richter Rossouw Straeuli Strydom Swart Teichmann Wiese Backs Hendriks Johnson Joubert Le Roux Mulder Roux Scholtz Small Stransky Van der Westhuizen Venter Williams Coach: Kitch Christie v t e South Africa Sevens – 1998 Commonwealth Games Squad Gaffie du Toit Joe Gillingham Deon Kayser Werner Raats Pieter Rossouw Bobby Skinstad Jeffrey Stevens André Venter Chester Williams Russell Winter Coach Dawie Snyman v t e South Africa Sevens – 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens Squad Helgard Brink Warren Britz Ricardo Loubscher Breyton Paulse André Pretorius Bobby Skinstad Rodger Smith Paul Treu Wayne van Heerden Chester Williams Coach Norman Mbiko v t e South Africa Sevens – 2002 Commonwealth Games — Bronze medal Squad Jean de Villiers Gaffie du Toit Ian Fihlani Dale Heidtmann Conrad Jantjes Fabian Juries Jorrie Müller Anton Pitout Neil Powell Marius Schoeman Egon Seconds Paul Treu Wayne van Heerden Luke Watson Coach Chester Williams

Authority control databases International VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chester Williams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Williams) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Williams?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.