On Sunday night, a car accident claimed the life of former Springbok lock Hannes Strydom.

Read also: SA Rugby mourns the loss of a fan at the Springbok parade.

According to African Insider, the incident happened on the N4 in Mpumalanga’s Witbank neighborhood. He had a 58-year-old age.

According to Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union, Hannes was one of his generation’s greatest locks and, starting in 1995 with the Springbok team, a hero of our local game.

On July 13, 1965, Strydom was born. Between 1993 and 1997, he participated in 21 tests and 10 non-tests in addition to representing the Springboks, who won the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time on home turf in 1995. Additionally, he was a prosperous businessman who ran several pharmacies.

He also participated in more than 100 games for the Lions, who dominated South Africa at the time and won the Super 10 before the sport evolved into Super Rugby, demonstrating the team’s caliber.

After Ruben Kruger, Joost van der Westhuizen, Chester Williams, and James Small, Strydom is the fifth member of the 1995 Springbok team to pass away, according to SA Rugby. The team’s coach, Kit Christie, who guided them to World Cup success, has also passed away.

Hannes was a key member of the illustrious Bok team that won the Webb Ellis Cup in South Africa in 1995, along with other members of that Lions team, including Francois Pienaar, Balie Swart, Kobus Wiese, and Hennie le Roux.

He was a diligent lock who never shied away from performing the menial tasks. The loss of yet another member of the illustrious Bok squad from 1995 is a serious blow to South Africa’s rugby community, and we are sending our condolences to his wife, Nikolie, their kids, Annalie and Hannes, as well as their family and friends.

Read also: