World Cup-winning South African rugby participant Hannes Strydom has died in a automotive crash aged 58.
Strydom was a part of the Springboks crew that lifted the World Cup after defeating New Zealand within the ultimate in 1995.
The victory, which got here a 12 months after the top of apartheid in South Africa, was immortalised within the 2009 Hollywood film Invictus.
Strydrom, who performed as a second-row, has been described as “one of many nice locks of his technology” after he was killed within the crash on Sunday night.
He’s the fifth member of the Springboks crew which started that 15-12 victory over the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg to have died.
Ruben Kruger died aged 39 in 2010 of mind most cancers; Joost van der Westhuizen died aged 45 in 2017 of motor neurone illness; James Small died aged 50 in 2019 of a coronary heart assault; Chester Williams died the identical 12 months aged 49 of a coronary heart assault. Williams was the one black participant on the profitable squad in 1995.
Strydom gained 21 Check caps between 1993 and 1997.
His worldwide profession included dealing with the British and Irish Lions in 1997, a sequence which resulted in a 2-1 defeat for the Springboks.
South African Rugby Union president Mark Alexander mentioned in an announcement: “Hannes was one of many nice locks of his technology and as a member of the Springbok squad from 1995, one of many heroes of our native recreation.
“To lose one more member of the enduring Bok squad from 1995 is a heavy blow to the rugby fraternity right here in South Africa and our ideas and condolences are along with his spouse, Nikolie, their kids, Annalie, Hannes and Lucy, household and mates on this very tough time.”
The Golden Lions, the rugby union membership Strydom performed for in South Africa, has additionally paid tribute to him.
Lions chief govt Rudolf Straeuli, one other member of South Africa’s 1995 World Cup squad, mentioned: “We’re deeply saddened by the information of the passing of Hannes.
“We share a decent bond as members of the 1995 group and to lose one more one in all our brothers is a giant blow.”