‘Great’ Springboks captain Dawie de Villiers dies aged 81

Former Springboks scrum-half and captain Dawie de Villiers has died elderly at 81 after a protracted war with cancer, South African Rugby announced on Sunday.

Apart from rugby, De Villiers became a minister within the first democratically elected South African authorities from 1994, underneath President Nelson Mandela.

Earlier, he was part of a delegation from the then ruling National Party that met the outlawed African National Congress (ANC) and helped unban the agency.

South African Rugby Union president Mark Alexander described De Villiers “as one of the greatest Springboks captains”.

“Dawie was hugely respected as a sportsman and a politician. He became part of the political winds of change as our country moved toward democracy. He was a great servant of South Africa.”

“To lead South Africa as long as he did in the amateur era and to hold the record for appearances as a Test captain until the dawn of professionalism says everything about his stature as a player and leader.

“He was a great and loyal servant of Springbok rugby and we pay tribute to his dedication and the service he gave to the sport and South African life.”

Born in the town of Stellenbosch near Cape Town, De Villiers represented Western Province, Boland, and Transvaal at the provincial level between 1961 and 1970.

He played 25 times for the Springboks over nine seasons from 1962, debuting against the British and Irish Lions, and scored three tries in an era when the score was worth three points.

The death of De Villiers finished a sad weekend for South African rugby with former Springboks ahead Pedrie Wannenburg, 41, killed in a multi-car crash in Texas on Friday.

A flanker, Wannenburg became capped 20 times through South Africa from 2002 and become unlucky now not to make the squad that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.