South Africa Rugby World Cup winner dies in a car accident, aged 58, after a ‘collision with a taxi’ in his homeland

Former South Africa rugby star Hannes Strydom has died aged 58 after being involved in a car accident. 

Strydom – who was part of the Springboks’ 1995 Rugby World Cup winning side – was said to have been involved in a collision with a taxi in his homeland in the province of Mpumalanga – to the north east of Johannesburg – on Sunday evening.

He picked up 21 caps for the Springboks between 1993 and 1997 and played all of his club career in his native South Africa.

The Springboks paid tribute to Strydom on social media as president Mark Alexander hailed him for being ‘a hero’ of South African rugby.

‘Hannes was one of the great locks of his generation and as a member of the Springbok squad from 1995, one of the heroes of our local game,’ he said.

‘He also played more than 100 games for the Lions at a time when they dominated the game in South Africa and won the Super 10 before it became Super Rugby, which underlined the quality of that team.

‘Hannes, along with other players from that Lions team, such as Francois Pienaar, Balie Swart, Kobus Wiese, and Hennie le Roux, formed the core of the famous Bok squad that lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in South Africa in 1995.

‘He was a hard-working lock who never shied away from getting stuck in and doing the dirty work. 

‘To lose yet another member of the iconic Bok squad from 1995 is a heavy blow to the rugby fraternity here in South Africa and our thoughts and condolences are with his wife, Nikolie, their children, Annalie, Hannes and Lucy, family and friends in this very difficult time.’

More to follow.