Jimmy Cotter

James Alfred Cotter (17 February 1959 – 5 September 1985) was a New Zealand rugby union and softball player.

Jimmy Cotter
Birth nameJames Alfred Cotter
Date of birth(1959-02-17)17 February 1959
Date of death5 September 1985(1985-09-05) (aged 26)
Place of deathBombay Hills, New Zealand
SchoolKuranui College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback
Wing
Centre
First five-eighth
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1977–78, 1981
1985		 Wairarapa Bush
Wellington		 29
3		 (59)
(4)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1978 Junior All Blacks 4 (20)

Early life

Cotter was educated at Kuranui College in Greytown, and was a member of the school's 1st XV rugby team in 1976.[1]

Sporting career

Cotter represented New Zealand in two sporting codes: rugby union and softball.[2]

Rugby union

Cotter was a Junior All Black in 1978.[3][4] A utility back who played in all positions from first five-eighth to fullback, Cotter played 29 games for Wairarapa Bush between 1977 and 1981, and three matches for Wellington in 1985.[3]

Softball

Cotter played 10 international games for the New Zealand men's national softball team between 1980 and 1984.[5] A powerful batter, he has been described as "one of the greatest softballers produced by New Zealand".[4][6]

Death and legacy

Cotter died on 5 September 1985 in a road crash on the Bombay Hills, south of Auckland.[1][7]

Since Cotter's death, the Jimmy Cotter Memorial Trophy has been contested in representative rugby matches between Wairarapa Bush and Wellington.[1][8] Cotter was inducted into the Softball New Zealand Hall of Fame in 1998.[9] Another Jimmy Cotter Memorial Trophy is awarded by Softball New Zealand to the emerging player of the year.[10]

References
  1. "James Alfred 'Jimmy' Cotter". Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  2. "Multisports champions of note". Wairarapa Times-Age. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  3. "James Alfred Cotter". New Zealand Rugby History. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  4. "Drake one of many sportspeople who died too soon". Stuff. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  5. "BSX test Caps". Softball New Zealand. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  6. Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Softball stars and future challenges". teara.govt.nz.
  7. "Softball super coach Mike Walsh honoured by Sport Wellington". Stuff. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  8. "Halftime 'rack-up' works". New Zealand Herald. 25 May 2006. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  9. "Honours Board". Softball New Zealand. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  10. "Softball: Man with two missions". New Zealand Herald. 22 January 2004. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
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