SA Rugby president Mark Alexander has paid tribute to Christie Noble, the former SARFF winger who passed away in the early hours of Friday morning after a short illness. He was 63.
Noble represented Western Province, WP Liga, Eastern Province and Natal during his playing career, and was part of the historic 1990 Natal side that claimed the union's first Currie Cup title in its centenary year — the only black player in that squad. He later served as an assistant coach to the inaugural Springbok Women's team in 2004.
His family's ties to South African rugby run deep: his older brother John also played for the SARFF Proteas, and his nephew is JP Pietersen, now head coach of the Sharks.
"The Noble family have left an indelible mark in rugby in South Africa," Alexander said. "Christie was among those players whose talent, determination and commitment helped sustain and develop the game beyond the traditional structures of rugby in the country."
Alexander described Noble's presence in the 1990 Natal team as an important milestone, noting that he "demonstrated that ability and excellence could transcend the barriers that divided South African rugby at the time."
"Players like Christie helped lay the foundations for the inclusive game we continue to build today," Alexander added. "Their contribution went beyond the results on the scoreboard — they helped create opportunities and inspire future generations."