It’s November 26th, 1994. At Cardiff Arms Park, South Africa’s national rugby team, the Springboks, are playing Wales and a lineout move leaves Springbok flyhalf Hennie le Roux isolated in the midfield. A ruck forms with South Africa on the backfoot.

The familiar voice of television rugby commentator Hugh Bladen blares: “They need to just get it loose now. They need to loosen it up.”

The ball emerges for the dangerous young South African scrumhalf, Joost van der Westhuizen, who snipes through a half gap.

Bladen’s excitement rises: “This is van der Westhuizen. And he’s got a gap. Look how he goes through it.”

The Springbok backs are suddenly flying, shifting the ball towards the left wing where Chester Williams, South Africa’s lone Black player, is sprinting upfield in support.

Bladen’s pitch jumps again: “Oh look at this, Andre Joubert.”

Bok fullback Joubert sends a final pass to Williams who receives the ball just inside the touchline, with 15 meters to the tryline, and with both Welsh halfbacks bearing down on him.

Bladen can hardly contain himself.

“Chester Williams!” he shouts, as Williams bounces off the attempted tackle of the Welsh flyhalf.

“Chester Williams!” Bladen bellows again as Chester races against the opposition number 9. Williams shifts into fifth gear and dives, with arms outstretched, towards the try line.

“Chester Williams!”

“Chester Williams makes the try!”

A quarter century ago, major rugby test matches were far rarer than today, and each result perhaps more cherished. The Wales test took place only two years after South Africa’s readmission into international competitions. The Springboks had been isolated by the international community, viewed rightly as a symbol of the shame tied up in apartheid’s cultural machinery. The country itself had just emerged from its first democratic election. With a representative government and a progressive constitution promising socio-economic justice and dignity for all, South Africa was preparing to host the world for the first time at the following year’s Rugby World Cup. It was also to be the first time that the Springboks could compete at the tournament, which had its inception in 1987.

Chester Williams was democratic South Africa’s first Black Springbok. Inevitably, with the world soon to be watching, he would be presented as a bridge to a new existence for South Africans.

As he rose from his diving match winner against Wales, Chester Williams raised his arms in victory. His all white teammates ran over to congratulate him.