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| James Small | |
|---|---|
| Name | James Small |
| Birth date | 1969-02-09 |
| Birth place | Cape Town |
| Death date | 2019-07-06 |
| Death place | Johannesburg |
| Occupation | Rugby union player, coach, television personality |
| Position | Wing |
| Height | 1.83 m |
| Weight | 85 kg |
James Small
James Small was a South African rugby union player best known as a powerful right wing for the South Africa national rugby union team during the 1990s. He emerged from the rugby strongholds of Western Cape and became prominent during the era surrounding the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the country's post-apartheid sporting reintegration. Small combined provincial success with international prominence and later transitioned into coaching and media roles across South African rugby and broadcasting circles.
Born in Cape Town in 1969, Small grew up in the Western Cape region and attended local schools where rugby held cultural prominence alongside competitions such as the Craven Week. He progressed through youth structures affiliated with provincial unions like Western Province and later matriculated while developing in the pathways that fed players into senior squads competing in tournaments including the Currie Cup.
Small made his senior provincial debut with Western Province before moving to other unions where he featured in domestic competitions such as the Currie Cup and the Super Rugby predecessor competitions. He earned selection for the South Africa national rugby union team and was capped throughout the early-to-mid 1990s, participating in test series against touring sides including New Zealand national rugby union team, Australia national rugby union team, and France national rugby union team. Small played a role in the national campaign that culminated in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, appearing in the tournament squad that faced opponents including England national rugby union team and Canada national rugby union team. At club and provincial level he also represented squads that competed against visiting international franchises and invitational teams such as the Barbarian F.C..
As a right wing, Small combined pace with physicality, regularly contesting high-ball situations and finishings for tries in matches versus opponents such as New Zealand All Blacks and British and Irish Lions touring sides. His defensive tenacity and ability to break tackles were notable in fixtures against regional rivals from Natal Sharks and Transvaal (now Golden Lions), and he accumulated a record of test appearances and domestic try-scoring that contributed to provincial titles and national team results. Tournament honours included being part of the squad that secured the 1995 Rugby World Cup title, a landmark achievement that intersected with state events such as the 1995 Rugby World Cup final hosted at Ellis Park Stadium.
Following retirement from top-level play, Small moved into coaching and player development roles within the South African rugby landscape, working with clubs and provincial development programs linked to unions like Western Province and franchises that had evolved into the modern Super Rugby structure. He also became a media personality, appearing on television and radio platforms covering matches involving teams such as Springboks fixtures, Currie Cup encounters, and international tours. His post-playing activities included punditry for broadcasts covering fixtures against sides such as Argentina national rugby union team and Italy national rugby union team, and he engaged in mentoring younger players aiming for selection to provincial academies and national age-group squads.
Small's personal life attracted media attention in South Africa, where he was known for public associations with personalities from South African entertainment and sports circles. He lived in major urban centers including Cape Town and Johannesburg, and maintained ties with former teammates who had represented South Africa national rugby union team and various provincial sides. Off the field he participated in charitable activities and events tied to rugby foundations and community initiatives associated with former international players and provincial unions.
Small is remembered as part of the cohort that helped restore and elevate South African rugby on the world stage during the 1990s, alongside teammates who featured in the 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph and in subsequent test series against perennial rivals such as New Zealand national rugby union team and Australia national rugby union team. Posthumous recognition and tributes came from provincial unions, former national captains, and rugby institutions including broadcaster obituaries and moments of silence at fixtures held at venues like Ellis Park Stadium and Newlands Stadium. His name remains associated with the era of South African sport that intersected with national milestones such as the 1995 Rugby World Cup victory and the reintroduction of South African teams into international competitions.
Category:South African rugby union players Category:1995 Rugby World Cup players Category:1969 births Category:2019 deaths