- Title: South African rugby hero Chester Williams dies at age 49
- Date: 7th September 2019
- Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - AUGUST 17, 1995) (REUTERS) NELSON MANDELA AWARDING MEDAL TO SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY PLAYER CHESTER WILLIAMS WILLIAMS HOLDING MEDAL AT CEREMONY CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - AUGUST 1, 1995) (REUTERS) CHESTER WILLIAMS SPEAKING AT INTERVIEW WILLIAMS SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS WILLIAMS ON FIELD WILLIAMS SIGNING AUTOGRAPH ON SHIRT
- Embargoed: 21st September 2019 01:58
- Keywords: Chester Williams South African rugby Springboks Nelson Mandela
- Location: PRETORIA / CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
- City: PRETORIA / CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001AVIUPTZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: World Cup winner Chester Williams, who broke racial barriers to emerge a national hero as one of South Africa's first black rugby union internationals, died after a suspected heart attack on Friday (September 6). He was 49.
The death of the jinking winger, who scored 14 tries in 27 appearances for the Springboks including four in a single test, comes just weeks before the World Cup kicks off in Japan. He was due to attend as one of the event's past legends.
His fellow wing James Small, another charismatic member of South Africa's title-winning side of 1995 in which Williams was the only non-white player, died less than two months ago.
Williams' try-scoring exploits, and trademark broad smile, made him an instant hero and gave black South Africans a reason to support the Springboks in the early years of the country's transition away from apartheid.
He had been injured before the World Cup but returned for the quarter-final against Western Samoa, becoming a household name overnight after scoring four tries in a 42-14 win.
Player of the year in South Africa in 1994, Williams' career was plagued by knee injuries that restricted his test appearances.
Williams, married with three children, turned to coaching after his playing days, starting with the South African sevens side that won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in 2002. He worked later in Uganda, Romania and Tunisia.
He was coaching the University of the Western Cape at the time of his death and had recently launched his own beer to coincide with the Rugby World Cup build-up.
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