Alex Nicholls (rugby union)
{{short description|Zimbabwean rugby union footballer and coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}{{infobox Rugby biography
| image =
|image_size=
| caption =
| birth_name= Alexander Herbert Nicholls
| relatives=
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|6|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Salisbury, South Rhodesia
| ru_position = Prop
| amatyears1 = 19??-19??
| amatteam1 =
| ru_province = Mashonaland[https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2019/11/29/zim-influence-in-an-african-success-story/ Zim influence in African success history] The Zimbabwe Independent, 29 November 2019
| ru_provinceyears = 19??-19??
| years1 = 1987-1993
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| repyears1 =1987-1991
| repteam1 = {{nrut|Zimbabwe}}
| repcaps1 =4
| reppoints1 =
}}
Alexander Herbert Nicholls (born Salisbury, 26 June 1961) is a Zimbabwean former rugby union player and coach. He played as prop.{{Cite web|title=Rugby World Cup Gold: The jewel of Zimbabwe Rugby|url=https://boxscorenews.com/rugby-world-cup-gold-the-jewel-of-zimbabwe-rugby-p100598-128.htm|access-date=2021-04-09|website=boxscorenews.com}}
Playing career
At club level, he played for the Mashonaland provincial team.[https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2019/11/29/zim-influence-in-an-african-success-story/ Zim influence in African success history] The Zimbabwe Independent, 29 November 2019 Nicholls also represented Zimbabwe at the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups, with his first international cap being during the pool stage match against Scotland in Wellington, on 30 May 1987 and his last cap being during the match against Japan in Belfast, on 24 October 1991.{{Cite web|title=Alexander Herbert Nicholls|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/player/10255.html|access-date=2021-04-09|website=ESPN scrum}}
Coaching career
Nichols was the caretaker coach of Zimbabwe in 1998.{{Cite web|date=5 June 1998|title=Africa: Problems resurface in rugby|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/199806050217.html|website=all.Africa.com}} In 2004, he was appointed manager of the Zimbabwe under-19 national team replacing Patrick Gumunyu, after the then-coach Reg Querl was sacked.{{Cite web|last=Independent|first=The|date=2004-06-03|title=Players fire coach|url=https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2004/06/04/players-fire-coach/|access-date=2021-04-09|website=The Zimbabwe Independent|language=en-US}} He also coached Old Hararians RFC.{{Cite web|last=Herald|first=The|title=Black Diamonds|url=https://www.herald.co.zw/black-diamonds/|access-date=2021-04-09|website=The Herald|language=en-GB}}
Personal life
He is the father of Joseph Nicholls and Ben Nicholls, the former being a player for Utah Warriors in the Major League Rugby{{Cite web|date=2019-01-30|title=Utah Warriors Re-Signs Joseph Nicholls|url=https://djcoilrugby.com/2019/01/30/utah-warriors-joseph-nicholls/|access-date=2021-04-09|website=djcoilrugby|language=en-US}} and the second being a coach for Warriors Selects.{{Cite web|date=2019-01-05|title=Utah Warriors 2019 Coaches & Pathway|url=https://djcoilrugby.com/2019/01/05/utah-warriors-2019-coaches-players-pathway/|access-date=2021-04-09|website=djcoilrugby|language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/10255.html Alex Nicholls international stats]
{{Zimbabwe Squad 1987 World Cup}}
{{Zimbabwe Squad 1991 World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholls, Alex}}
Category:Rugby union players from Harare
Category:Zimbabwean rugby union players
Category:Zimbabwean rugby union coaches
Category:White Zimbabwean sportspeople