Kitch Christie

George Moir Christie , more simply known like Kitch Christie , born the January 31st 1940, deceased the April 22nd 1998, is a South-African player of Rugby to XV. It is especially known as trainer of Rugby to XV. It involves the team of South Africa between 1994 and 1995 leading the Springboks to the victory in world cup in 1995.

Childhood

Born with Johannesburg from a Scottish father and an English mother , it follows the school in Leith Academy to Edinburgh in Scotland and in London Institute off Electronics.

Career of player

Kitch Christie turns over in its country of birth, evolving/moving with the club of Harlequins of Pretoria like third line wing. He knows a career of player without important fact of weapons, he does not gain any national selection, however he develops already qualities of trainer.

Course of trainer

He then becomes a selector for the Northern Transvaal.

In 1980, it spends the southern winter (the summer for the northern hemisphere) to the the United States, involving the club of the Chicago Lions. Although its stay with Chicago lasts only three months, it marked its passage, leading them under their regional competition.

It pushes back an offer to become the trainer of Northern Transvaal, it accepts that of Louis Luyt, then president of the union of the Transvaal, to take the direction of the team in 1992. Luyt will play an important role in the career of Kitch Christie.

With the Transvaal, Kitch Christie gains twice the Currie Cup in 1993 and 1994.

Team of South Africa

During this time, Louis Luyt is deevenu president of the South African Rugby Football Union. After a round of the team of South Africa in New Zealand the summer 1994 which shows 2 defeats and no one, Ian McIntosh (4 victories, 2 null and 6 defeats) is returned, it hardly made better than John Williams (1 victory and 4 defeats) in 1992.

Kitch Christie takes the reins of the team of South Africa, it will lead this one to 14 consecutive victories, the hour is however with the doubt before the great appointment.

The World cup of Rugby at XV 1995 was held in South Africa of the May 25th with the June 24th 1995.

For them world cup, the South-Africans play in the group has with Australia, Romania and Canada. The South-Africans beat holding Australia of title 27-18, then Romania 21-8 and Canada 20-0. The South-Africans finish first of hen, they face the Samoa. They carry it 42-14. Saturdays June 17th 1995, France in semi-final is opposed to South Africa, at it, in its stage of Kings Park de Durban, the lawn is flooded, the kickoff is pushed back, under difficult conditions the Sprinboks gain 19-15.

The All Blacks are favorite for the final: they gain their hen easily then eliminate Scotland in quarterfinal and final England in half. Jonah Lomu is highlighted by marking four tests at the time of the half finale. The New Zealanders finally incline little against the Springboks (12-15) at the end of a very disputed match during which no test is marked. Thierry Lacroix is the best realizer (112 points), Mark Ellis and Jonah Lomu is the best markers of tests with 7 tests each one. This world cup is strong in symbols: François Pienaar, captain of the Springboks , receives hands of Nelson Mandela, first black president of the country, the trophy William Webb Ellis. Nelson Mandela revêt the shirt of François Pienaar. It symbolizes the birth of a nation, before the ethnos groups lived separated by the Apartheid until beginning of the year 90. Chester Williams is the only player not-white of the manpower of South Africa which is victorious World cup 1995.

End of its life

In March 1996, Kitch Christie gives up the Springboks because he suffers from a Leucémie. At the beginning, the treatment occurs well and he thinks of being able to be the principal trainer of the Northern Transvaal, for the season 1997 of Super 12. However, it cannot move with the team in Australasia at the beginning of the season, and its health worsens, it is again hospitalized a few weeks later. Christie is thus dislocated of its functions of trainer whereas it is on a bed of hospital.

End 1997, its health condition worsens and it must be transported with the the United States to see specialists. It however makes a return to Rugby like adviser technical for the Falcons in 1998, but its health is degraded, it enters to the hospital for the last time Sunday of Easter 1998.

Prize list as trainer

Finales of Currie Cup

Team of South Africa

Victoire in the World cup of Rugby at XV 1995
directed 14 matches of the Springboks for 14 victories

Appendices

Notes & references

External bonds

"Rugby world mourns the great Kitch Christie". South African Close Association via Daily Dispatch (East London, South Africa), April 24th 1998.
'' Off-color Springboks '' guardian.co.uk
Kitch Christie to see 1995 in Springbok Rugby Hall off Famed

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