George Moir Christie, better known as Kitch Christie, was a South African rugby union coach best known for coaching the country's national team, the Springboks, to victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
15 Facts About Kitch Christie
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Kitch Christie remained unbeaten during his tenure as Springbok rugby coach between 1994 and 1996, including leading the team to a then record 14 consecutive victories.
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Kitch Christie picked up his lifelong nickname of "Kitch" from his fellow pupils, who named him after Don Kitchenbrand, a South African footballer with Rangers in the 1950s.
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In 1980, Kitch Christie spent the South African winter in the United States, coaching the Chicago Lions club.
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In 1992, having been denied the opportunity to coach at Northern Transvaal, Kitch Christie accepted an offer from Louis Luyt, then the president of the Transvaal union, to take the reins there.
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At Transvaal Kitch Christie established himself as one of the finest coaches in South African rugby, leading the team to one of their most successful periods.
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Luyt was convinced that Kitch Christie was the man to take over following his success at Transvaal, and in October 1994, Kitch Christie accepted the offer to take over from McIntosh.
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Kitch Christie took over at a pivotal time, with the run-up to the 1995 Rugby World Cup, hosted by South Africa, and the first major competition for the Springboks after their return from international exile with the end of apartheid.
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Kitch Christie had just nine months to transform the team into World Cup contenders.
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Kitch Christie began his international coaching career with back-to-back victories at home against Argentina in October 1994, followed by a successful tour to Europe in November 1994, when the team beat Scotland and Wales.
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Kitch Christie's final game in charge of the Springboks was a victory over England at Twickenham on a short tour in November 1995.
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Francois Pienaar, in his autobiography, recalled how Kitch Christie joined the team huddle and stood between Pienaar and James Dalton.
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In March 1996, Kitch Christie stepped down from the Springboks due to ill health and was replaced by Andre Markgraaf.
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Kitch Christie coached South Africa in 14 tests between October 1994 and March 1996, winning all 14.
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Kitch Christie died on 22 April 1998 in Pretoria, leaving his wife Judy of 19 years, their son Clayton, and his two daughters, Catherine and Caroline, from a previous marriage.