BREAKING: Springbok legend James Small dies

Was shocked to see this now on Netwerk24.

Only 50 and was probably still in better shape than most I presume. A lot of silent killers like blood pressure etc. out there.

RIP.
 
Played against James in high school.

Man, I just bumped into him in Parkhurst a couple of months ago...

I... I really have no words right now...
 
Sportsmen who play heavy contact sports tend to die a bit younger. Think I heard a while back that American football players average about 56 or something. I wonder if it was all the hits and damage or perhaps substances they took to be the best, or a combination of the whole lot?

Anyways, RIP. Great player. Funny side story he went to my school (Greenside High) 10 years before me and was a huge bad boy. Even with his astonishing sporting achievements the principle really tried to get rid of him but could not (or so the story went). As soon as he became a springbok though he was suddenly the icon of the school on recruitment drives etc. Was funny. His school records for the 200m and 400m stood 10 years until one of my mates broke them. He was strong but people sometimes forget he was also very very fast.
 
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander passed on his condolences to Small’s family and friends.
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I see what he did th.....wait, no, is that like a play on "passed the ball" or "passed on to the afterlife"?
 
Cius said:
Sportsmen who play heavy contact sports tend to die a bit younger. Think I heard a while back that American football players average about 56 or something. I wonder if it was all the hits and damage or perhaps substances they took to be the best, or a combination of the whole lot?

Anyways, RIP. Great player. Funny side story he went to my school (Greenside High) 10 years before me and was a huge bad boy. Even with his astonishing sporting achievements the principle really tried to get rid of him but could not (or so the story went). As soon as he became a springbok though he was suddenly the icon of the school on recruitment drives etc. Was funny. His school records for the 200m and 400m stood 10 years until one of my mates broke them. He was strong but people sometimes forget he was also very very fast.
Click to expand...

It has to do with concussions. There is a massive study on it, loads of documentaries and a movie about it starring Will Smith

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_traumatic_encephalopathy
 
Just watched short hilite (10 mins) of Small's career on SS ch.201.
Included him and Lomu chatting at Ellis Park about RWC 1995.
Nice to see 2 gr8 legends together in a (somewhat) relaxed atmosphere :)
 
RIP James

Some interesting story regarding the circumstances in today's rapport.
 
:laugh: To be expected sex drugs and Rugby.
At least he didn’t try to be the biggest christian on the cover of christian magazines like Old Doosie Van Der westhuizen.
 
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