{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union and softball player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Jimmy Cotter | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = James Alfred Cotter | birth_date = {{Birth date|1959|02|17|df=yes}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|1985|09|05|1959|02|17|df=yes}} | death_place = Bombay Hills, New Zealand | ru_position = Fullback<br>Wing<br>Centre<br>First five-eighth | height = | weight = | repteam1 = Junior All Blacks | repyears1 = 1978 | repcaps1 = 4 | reppoints1 = 20 | province1 = {{Rut|Wairarapa Bush}} | province2 = {{Rut|Wellington}} | provinceyears1 = 1977–78, 1981 | provinceyears2 = 1985 | provinceapps1 = 29 | provinceapps2 = 3 | provincepoints1 = 59 | provincepoints2 = 4 | occupation = | spouse = | relatives = | school = Kuranui College | university = }} '''James Alfred Cotter''' (17 February 1959 – 5 September 1985) was a New Zealand rugby union and softball player.
==Early life== Cotter was educated at Kuranui College in Greytown, and was a member of the school's 1st XV rugby team in 1976.<ref name="WBRFU profile">{{Cite web |url=https://waibush.co.nz/wp/player/james-alfred-jimmy-cotter/|title=James Alfred 'Jimmy' Cotter |publisher=Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref>
==Sporting career== Cotter represented New Zealand in two sporting codes: rugby union and softball.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://times-age.co.nz/multisports-champions-of-note/ |title=Multisports champions of note |date=1 May 2020|work=Wairarapa Times-Age |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref>
===Rugby union=== Cotter was a Junior All Black in 1978.<ref name="NZRH">{{cite web |url=https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/james-alfred-cotter |title=James Alfred Cotter |website=New Zealand Rugby History |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="Stuff 2009">{{Cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/761849/Drake-one-of-many-sportspeople-who-died-too-soon |title=Drake one of many sportspeople who died too soon |date=4 February 2009|work=Stuff |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> A utility back who played in all positions from first five-eighth to fullback, Cotter played 29 games for {{Rut|Wairarapa Bush}} between 1977 and 1981, and three matches for {{Rut|Wellington}} in 1985.<ref name="NZRH"/>
===Softball=== Cotter played 10 international games for the New Zealand men's national softball team between 1980 and 1984.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.softball.org.nz/Sox+Nation/Golden+Homes+Black+Sox/BSX+Test+Caps.html |title=BSX test Caps |publisher=Softball New Zealand |access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> A powerful batter, he has been described as "one of the greatest softballers produced by New Zealand".<ref name="Stuff 2009"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/softball-and-baseball/page-3|title=Softball stars and future challenges|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|last=Taonga|website=teara.govt.nz}}</ref>
==Death and legacy== Cotter died on 5 September 1985 in a road crash on the Bombay Hills, south of Auckland.<ref name="WBRFU profile"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/hutt-news/3813344/Softball-super-coach-Mike-Walsh-honoured-by-Sport-Wellington |title=Softball super coach Mike Walsh honoured by Sport Wellington |date=15 June 2010 |work=Stuff |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref>
Since Cotter's death, the Jimmy Cotter Memorial Trophy has been contested in representative rugby matches between Wairarapa Bush and Wellington.<ref name="WBRFU profile"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/halftime-rack-up-works/HVXZ2LZ27FTWPGJF3I73RH5LNE/ |title=Halftime 'rack-up' works |work=New Zealand Herald |date=25 May 2006 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> Cotter was inducted into the Softball New Zealand Hall of Fame in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.softball.org.nz/Softball+NZ/Honours+board.html |title=Honours Board |publisher=Softball New Zealand |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> Another Jimmy Cotter Memorial Trophy is awarded by Softball New Zealand to the emerging player of the year.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/softball-man-with-two-missions/V3LEAQ4N5FCM67SM2UQVVGOZTQ/ |title=Softball: Man with two missions |date=22 January 2004 |work=New Zealand Herald |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cotter, Jimmy}} Category:1959 births Category:1985 deaths Category:People educated at Kuranui College Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:Wairarapa Bush rugby union players Category:Wellington rugby union players Category:Rugby union fullbacks Category:Rugby union wings Category:Rugby union centres Category:Rugby union fly-halves Category:New Zealand softball players Category:Road incident deaths in New Zealand