The Blue Bulls Rugby Union (BBRU)‚ the only provincial team Joost van der Westhuizen ever played for‚ expressed their shock and sadness at the passing of the former scrumhalf on Monday.
Van der Westhuizen succumbed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis‚ the most severe form of motor neuron disease (MND). He was 45 years old.
Blue Bulls Company CEO‚ Barend van Graan said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Joost van der Westhuizen‚ and our thoughts and condolences go out to his family‚ friends and the millions of fans that adored him.
- 'Two legends reunited' - Joost van der Westhuizen and Jonah Lomu's great rivalry recalledThe deaths of two legends in their 40s is being mourned by rugby clubs and the sport's fans on Monday‚ as they recall the epic match-up of the 1995 World Cup between Springboks' Joost van der Westhuizen and the All Blacks' Jonah Lomu.
“Joost will forever be remembered as the warrior that terrified opposition on the field‚ and one that took on MND head on while raising massive awareness for the cause.
“Although he suffered immense difficulties because of MND‚ he showed South Africa his fighting spirit through his foundation‚ the J9 Foundation‚ as he pioneered awareness of this dreaded disease.”
- OBITUARY: Courageous Joost van der Westhuizen changed rugbyThe lingering image of Joost van der Westhuizen is of him throwing himself at the feet of a rampaging Jonah Lomu in the 1995 World Cup final at Ellis Park to fell the behemoth at a time when others hadn’t.
Gert Wessel‚ President of the BBRU said: “Joost was an individual with a ‘big heart’‚ both on and off the field.
“This showed in his approach to the game as he stood back and stepped aside for nothing in his playing. This tenacious attitude clearly came through in his battle against MND as well.”
- TMG Digital/TMG Sport
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