Hannes Strydom: Rugby World Cup winner dies in car crash

Hannes Strydom has died following a car crash in the South African province of Mpumalangam near the town of Emalahleni.

Details around the accident are so far unclear, however, Strydom’s friend Kobus Wiese told local media Strydom’s vehicle collided with a taxi, causing Strydom’s death.

The Springboks paid tribute to Strydom with a statement in which they described him as, “one of the heroes of our local game”.

Strydom was a legend of the Lions Super Rugby team, who dominated the Super 10 competition in the mid-late 90s. The Lions also released a statement, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Hannes…Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and the rugby fraternity at large.”

Strydom was a key figure in South Africa’s squad when they won the 1995 Rugby World Cup following their return to international sport after the ending of Apartheid.

The current CEO of Lions Rugby Company (who now play in the United Rugby Championship) was a teammate of Strydom in 1995, saying, “we share a tight bond as members of the 1995 group and to lose yet another one of our brothers is a big blow,” in response to his passing.

Strydom is the fifth member of the great 1995 team to pass away according to BBC reporting, the others are, “Ruben Kruger in 2010, Joost van der Westhuizen in 2017, and Chester Williams and James Small in 2019.”