James Small (rugby union)

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James Small
Date of birth(1969-02-10)10 February 1969
Place of birthCape Town, South Africa
Date of death10 July 2019(2019-07-10) (aged 50)
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight89 kg (196 lb; 14.0 st)
SchoolGreenside High School
ChildrenRuby Small
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988–1993 Transvaal 64 (?)
1993–1996 Natal 67 (258)
1997 Western Province 19 (85)
1998–1999 Golden Lions ? (?)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
1998 Stormers 6 (5)
1999 Cats ? (?)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1992–1997 South Africa 47 (100)

James Terence Small (10 February 1969 – 10 July 2019) was a South African

All Blacks in 1992 and he made his final appearance against Scotland in 1997. In that final test match, he scored his 20th try, becoming the leading Springbok try scorer, eclipsing Danie Gerber's record.[1][2] He was also the leading try scorer in the 1996 Super 12 season
.

Early life and education

Small was born in Cape Town[1] to a working-class family, and attended Risidale Primary School and Greenside High School in Johannesburg, South Africa. He obtained Transvaal Colours for athletics and competed in the 100m and 400m when he was 16, but looking back said lacked the discipline in school required by athletics, preferring rugby as the fun alternative.[3] He said he was offered the opportunity to go to San Diego State University for athletics but had to turn down the offer as his family could not afford for him to travel there.[3] At school he was involved in association football, but was banned from the sport after a falling out with a referee, after which he turned to rugby. He was selected to represent the Transvaal school boys at Craven Week, earning a place in the South African schools boys side on the back of his performance there.[3] Although he didn't go to university, he played for the Wits rugby club.[3] In 1987 year he started playing for Transvaal, at the age of 18.[3]

Rugby career

Provincial career

Small played much of his provincial career under coach Harry Viljoen, following him from Transvaal to Natal in 1993, and to Western Province in 1998. That same year he returned to the Transvaal, then known as the Golden Lions, but "had a string of discipline problems with former All Black coach Laurie Mains".[4] He played for the Cats in 1999, and retired after an injury.

International career

His first Test match in 1992 was the first for the Springboks at the dawn of the new, internationally acceptable South Africa following the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC. He was one of the heroes of the Springbok team that won the 1995 Rugby World Cup and later that year experienced the transition of rugby from an amateur to a professional sport.[5]

After the fall of apartheid, when the Springboks were being taught the lyrics to the new South African national anthem, "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", Small was particularly enthusiastic about learning the lyrics.[6] His response was that in his early days of playing rugby, he too was discriminated against, by Afrikaner players, for being of British descent rather than Dutch like they were.[6] When the Springboks visited Robben Island on a tour, Small was very moved by what he saw and visibly wept,[6] recalling later that "Thinking about Mandela's cell and how he spent twenty-seven years in prison and came out with love and friendship. All that washed over me, that huge realization, and the tears just rolled down my face."[6]

Small faced Jonah Lomu as his opposite man in the final of the 1995 World Cup. Lomu had scored four tries in New Zealand's semifinal against England, but Small and his teammates managed to contain Lomu, preventing him from scoring. The Springboks won the match and the Cup.

Small's career was marred by his verbal abuse of others on the rugby field, gaining notoriety as being the "bad boy" of the Springbok team.[1][6]

He became the first Springbok to ever be sent off, as a result of dissent towards referee Ed Morrison in the second test against Australia in 1993.[7][8] In later years Small acknowledged that he felt he had let a lot of people down but that he was sent off as a result of an accumulation of incidents in the team.[3] He faced a Springboks disciplinary hearing, but was selected for the third test match the following week.[3]

Small was also alleged by his teammate Chester Williams to have uttered racist abuse towards him,[9][10] though as an opponent in provincial rugby, not as a Springbok teammate.[6]

Test Match record

Against P W D L Tri Pts %Won
 Argentina 5 5 0 0 5 25 100
 Australia 9 4 0 5 3 15 44.44
 British Lions 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
 England 5 3 0 2 0 0 60
 Fiji 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
 France 9 6 1 2 4 20 72.22
 Italy 2 2 0 0 2 10 100
 New Zealand 9 1 1 7 0 0 16.67
 Romania 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
 Samoa 1 1 0 0 1 5 100
 Scotland 1 1 0 0 2 10 100
 Tonga 1 1 0 0 2 10 100
 Wales 2 2 0 0 1 5 100
Total 47 28 2 17 20 100 61.7

Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

Test tries (20)

Tries Opposition Location Venue Competition Date Result
1  France Lyon, France Stade de Gerland Test match 17 October 1992 Won 20–15
1  France Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Test match 3 July 1993 Lost 17–18
2  Australia Sydney, Australia Sydney Football Stadium Test match 31 July 1993 Won 19–12
1  Australia Sydney, Australia Sydney Football Stadium Test match 21 August 1993 Lost 12–19
2  Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium
Test match 6 November 1993 Won 29–26
2  Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium
Test match 13 November 1993 Won 52–23
1  Samoa Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Test match 13 April 1995 Won 60–8
1  Wales Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Test match 2 September 1995 Won 40–11
1  Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium
Test match 9 November 1996 Won 46–15
1  France Bordeaux, France Stade du Parc Lescure Test match 30 November 1996 Won 22–12
2  Tonga Cape Town, South Africa Newlands Test match 10 June 1997 Won 74–10
2  Italy Bologna, Italy Dall'Ara Stadium Test match 8 November 1997 Won 61–31
1  France Lyon, France Stade de Gerland Test match 15 November 1997 Won 36–32
2  Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland Murrayfield Test match 6 December 1997 Won 68–10

World Cup matches

  Champions   Runners-up   Third place   Fourth place

No. Date Opposition Venue Stage Position Tries Result
1995
1. 25 May 1995  Australia Newlands, Cape Town Pool match
Right wing
27–18
2. 30 May 1995  Romania Newlands, Cape Town Pool match Right wing 21–8
3. 17 Jun 1995  France Kings Park, Durban Semi-final Right wing 19–15
4. 24 Jun 1995  New Zealand Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Final
Right wing 15–12

Post rugby life, career and business interests

During his time as rugby player, Small worked as a model and became something of a sporting sex symbol.[6] In a 2018 interview with John Robbie on the Sport Exchange, he lamented not making more of the opportunities presented to him, and regretted not having someone helping him to professionally manage and market his image and brand, which he saw as being available to international overseas sports icons. He did not know how to handle the money and opportunities that were available to him at the time, and he admitted once spending all the money he had earned on six Armani suits, instead of his career management.[3]

He was involved in the building industry, renovating houses. He also owned a number of restaurants including having opened Café Caprice in Camps Bay.[11]

He was also involved in commentating, and in coaching the game.[3] Small was involved with the Investec Rugby Academy, before being appointed Pukke assistant coach for the 2014 Varsity Cup. He then joined the Leopards in the Currie Cup First Division as coaching consultant.[12] He was also involved in an online podcast "The elephant in the room" on rugby commentary with Darren Scott. The 50th birthday episode is available online.[13]

In his personal life he was involved in a long term relationship with Christina Storm. She is a well known local celebrity, and the tabloids regularly reported on their relationship, which was tumultuous. Christina Storm (now Storm-Nel), with whom he has a daughter, Ruby Small, has since married and has other children. He has publicly acknowledged and apologised for his abusive treatment of her, including in two incidents which turned physically violent. These claims were denied and proved untrue by Storm in an interview for ‘YOU’ magazine in 2020. He also sought therapy for a period of two years. He has said he has been arrogant and petulant, and it resulted in losing the love of his life.[3] There was a publicised court battle over custody of his daughter.[14]

He also attempted suicide in 2001, following the break up and was hospitalised and sectioned under South Africa's Mental Health Care Act for 3 months. He has also admitted misusing alcohol and cocaine, and had major struggles with alcohol misuse. President Nelson Mandela reportedly telephoned him personally and asked him what happened following his hospitalisation. The President listened to him and then simply said, "I know what it feels like if you think people have forgotten about you. I went through it as well in my time in prison." The two men were said to have a personal relationship.[15] Small felt this helped him gain some perspective on his problems, and he was moved by the President's humanity in reaching out to him.

He attributed his recovery to his great friendships and his commitment to his, at the time, newborn daughter.

Death

Small died in hospital on Wednesday morning on 10 July 2019, at the age of 50, after suffering a heart attack while having drinks at The Harem, a strip club in Johannesburg.[16] Club co-owner, Jerome Saffi, confirmed that Small had collapsed while having drinks at the bar.[17] An autopsy revealed the cause of death as ischemic heart disease, and the police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death revealed no suspicious circumstances.[18]

Small's memorial was held at the Wanderers Rugby Field, and was open to all mourners. Former Springboks who attended included James Dalton, Kobus Wiese, Pierre Spies, Rudolf Straeuli, John Smit and Stefan Terblanche. Current Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was also there, as was Small's former partner, Christina Storm.[19]

Small was survived by his son (9) and daughter (15), his sister and his mother. The South African Rugby Legends Association established a fundraising initiative in aid of James Small's family.[20]

Tributes and legacy

His record on the field, and the very many tributes from the sporting fraternity, amongst others, speak for themselves. Some examples are cited below:

"The African National Congress (ANC) is shocked and saddened by the passing of former Springbok player, James Small.

He was a member of the legendary South African Rugby squad that won the World Cup in 1995, a year after the ushering in of a democratic government in South Africa. The class of 1995 contributed enormously towards uniting the nation and displaying to the world South Africa’s sporting prowess. James Small was a patriot who fought like a soldier in the field of play and was prepared to die with his boots on. He played with extraordinary passion and commitment, for he knew that everytime he walked onto the field, he carried the hopes of the nation on his shoulders. The ANC conveys its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire sporting world."[21]

The All Blacks referred to him as a Springbok great and the 1995 Rugby World Cup winner, and went on to say he was "a fierce competitor on the field and great friend off it, James will be missed by the entire global rugby community. Rest In Peace, legend." [22] The Wallabies also acknowledged him as a legend.[22] The widow of Jonah Lomu also acknowledged his death.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "SA Rugby Player Profile – James Small". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  2. ^ Bill McLaren. James Small - The Record Breaker (video). Real Rugby. Event occurs at 33:30 - 35:10. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j The Sport Exchange with John Robbie - Episode 14 - James Small, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 6 August 2019
  4. ^ SHAPSHAK, DAVID (24 June 1999). "James Small quits rugby". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  5. ^ "MSN". MSN.
  6. ^ . Retrieved 3 January 2018 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Former South Africa RWC winner James Small dies". Otago Daily Times. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Australia 1993 - James Small send off.mp4". YouTube. McLook3. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Interview: Chester Williams". The Guardian. 18 November 2002. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  10. .
  11. ^ "Cafe Caprice". iafrica.com. iafrica. 25 March 2004. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Where are 1995 Boks now? - SA Rugbymag". www.sarugbymag.co.za. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Pockittv". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Small in custody battle for his daughter | IOL News". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  15. ^ Lindeque, Brent (11 July 2019). "Read: How Madiba saved James Small with a simple phone call". Good Things Guy. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  16. ^ "BREAKING: Springbok legend James Small dies". Sport. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  17. ^ "James Small didn't die naked - The Harem club owner". News 24. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  18. ^ "Autopsy confirms James Small's cause of death". Sport. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  19. ^ "WATCH | Springbok stars pay tribute to 'rebel' James Small". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Legends to help raise funds for Small's family". Sport. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  21. ^ "ANC pays tribute to 'patriot' James Small". Sport. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  22. ^ a b "All Blacks pay glowing tribute to James Small". Sport. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.

External links