2023-11-21 01:36:08
“A hero” is gone! While South African rugby fans are still enjoying their players’ 4th world championship title, won a few weeks ago against New Zealand in France, an entire country is being hit by a new tragedy .
Hannes Strydom, starter in the South African XV, crowned 1995 world champion at home, died on Sunday in a road accident, the president of the South African Rugby Federation, Mark Alexander, announced on Monday.
“Hannes was one of the great second rows of his generation, and, as a member of the 1995 Springboks team, one of our heroes,” the manager said.
Curse among the 1995 world champions
The car of the man who became a pharmacist after his fully accomplished playing career in South Africa, mainly for the Transvaal Province, crashed into a minibus near the mining town of Emalalheni, about 140 km northwest of Johannesburg.
“He was a forward of duty, who never hesitated to go for it,” added Mark Alexander about Strydom, who made 21 caps for the Springboks, from 1993 to 1997, and whose world title in 1995 constitutes the greatest feat of arms.
He is the fifth holder of the World Cup final – won on June 24, 1995 against New Zealand under the eyes of President Nelson Mandela – to disappear, after Ruben Kruger, Joost van der Westhuizen, Chester Williams and James Small.
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