As part of our ongoing 1995 Rugby World Cup anniversary series, we honor Chester Williams — one of the five Springbok heroes from that unforgettable Ellis Park final 30 years ago, who has since passed on.
Williams is more than just a rugby icon; he was a symbol of hope and unity, rising above the divisions of sport and politics to inspire countless people across South Africa and beyond.
In this series, you can find part one and part two highlighting his remarkable journey.
Over his career, Williams earned 27 Test caps for the Springboks, crossing the try line 14 times and accumulating 70 points. He was part of 20 victories, with six losses and one draw, boasting a win rate of 76%.
Making his Test debut in November 1993 against Argentina in Buenos Aires, Williams played his last international match seven years later against Wales in Cardiff.
His rise to worldwide fame came during South Africa’s victorious 1995 Rugby World Cup campaign. Though initially sidelined due to injury, he returned after wing Pieter Hendricks was suspended for a disciplinary issue. Williams made a remarkable comeback, scoring four tries in the quarter-finals against Samoa, and played a vital role in the historic final win over the All Blacks.
Chester Williams was a man of conviction. Later in his career, he openly criticized the quota system in South African rugby and confronted the issue of racism within the national team, sharing his views in his autobiography, Chester.
After retiring as a player, Williams transitioned into coaching. He started as assistant coach for Boland in 2001, took charge of the Springbok Sevens team the same year, and later coached the Cats (2004-2005), South Africa ‘A’, and the Pumas (2006).
His coaching journey extended internationally with stints in Uganda (2007), Tunisia (2008), and Romania where he led Dinamo Bucharest (2008-2011) and Timisoara (2012-2013).
In 2015, Williams completed a sports science coaching diploma and served as marketing director for Forward Africa Petroleum.
Tragically, Chester Williams passed away at the age of 49 on 6 September 2019, reportedly from a heart attack, as reported by The South African.
Stay tuned to TheSouthAfrican for more tribute articles in this commemorative series over the coming days.
