SA Rugby mourns 'tough-as-nails' Williams

12/05/2024 04:16 AM

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander has paid tribute to former Springbok lock and coach John Williams, who died on Thursday.

Williams passed away from leukaemia, aged 78. He played 13 Tests for South Africa between 1971 and 1976, and won the Currie Cup three times as a player with the then-Northern Transvaal in 1973, 1974 and 1975.

The 2.01m second-rower coached the Bulls to Currie Cup titles in 1987 and 1988, while they shared the trophy with Western Province in 1989. He was then appointed as the first Bok coach post isolation in 1992, a position he held for five Tests as the Boks made their way back into the international arena.

Williams, who was born in Johannesburg on 29 October 1946, returned to the Bulls after his Bok coaching stint had ended when he was replaced by Ian McIntosh in 1993.

After his rugby and academic career at the Northwest University, where he was dean of students, Williams moved to the family farm in Limpopo in 1999, where he farmed livestock and game. He was also a former chairman of Agri Limpopo and won the province's Farmer of the Year award.

"John Williams was one of only six people who played for South Africa and then also coached the Boks after unity in 1992, along with Carel du Plessis, Nick Mallett, Rudolf Straeuli, Allister Coetzee and Rassie Erasmus," said Alexander.

"He was a tough-as-nails lock and a great lineout jumper, and because of his knowledge of the game, he had a successful career in coaching, although the return to the Test arena in 1992 was a difficult time for the Boks.

"The Bulls teams from the late 1980s carried the hallmark of his coaching and were almost unstoppable as they dominated the local rugby scene for a number of years.

"As a true rugby man, John ploughed back into the game after he had hung up his boots and he remained a loyal supporter of both the Bulls and the Springboks. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and loved ones in this very sad time of bereavement."

Williams completed his doctoral studies in Canada in 1977 after he had retired from playing. He had three children with his first wife, Martie, who passed away in 2003 – Elmien, Lianie and Boeta. He was later married to Mariana.

Photo: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images

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