Thelo wakefield biography of williams

The late, great Chester Williams wanted the University of the Western Cape to be regularly competing for the Varsity Cup title by 2022, writes DYLAN JACK.

Williams, who guided UWC into the Varsity Cup, passed away suddenly from a heart attack in Cape Town last year.

UWC director of sport Mandla Gagayi appointed Williams in one of his first tasks after arriving at the university in 2015.

Working closely with then club chairman Phillip October as well as Thelo Wakefield, Gert Smal and Paul Treu from Western Province Rugby, they identified Williams as the best candidate to carry out UWC’s ambitions.

After being allowed to build his own side, Williams set about proving that UWC were ready for the Varsity Cup by getting his side to score 50 points in six of their nine games in 2018 as they won promotion from the Shield after demolishing WSU in the final.

‘He told us that when he started in 2015, we should be mindful of the fact that he is inheriting a team that he did n