Sport | John Williams, the first Springbok coach post-isolation, has died

Springbok head coach John Williams (R) with captain Naas Botha (L) in 1992. (Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images)

John Williams, who was the first Springbok coach post-isolation, died at the age of 78 on Thursday morning.

Williams coached the Springboks in 1992, the year they were allowed back into the international fold after being excluded because of apartheid.

Bulls president Willem Strauss confirmed the news of Williams’ death to News24. Williams died in a Pretoria hospital after being in a coma the past 10 days.

The Boks won only one of their five Tests in 1992, with Williams replaced as head coach by Ian McIntosh the following season.

Williams also had success as a coach of Northern Transvaal (now called Bulls). He won the Currie Cup with the team in 1987, 1988 and 1991 and shared the title with Western Province in 1989.

After his tenure as Bok coach ended, Williams returned for a second spell as Bulls mentor in the mid-1990s.

Williams, who was over 2 metres tall, was also a prolific rugby player and starred as a lock for the Bulls in the 1970s. He also played 13 Tests for the Springboks during that period.

John Williams in action for the Springboks against the All Blacks in 1976. (Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images)

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