Former South Africa Rugby World Cup star Hannes Strydom, a member of the Springboks’ victorious 1995 Rugby World Cup team, has tragically passed away at 58 following a car accident in Mpumalanga, northeast of Johannesburg.
Strydom, who earned 21 caps for the Springboks between 1993 and 1997, sustained the fatal accident involving a taxi on Sunday evening. He dedicated his entire club career to South Africa.
In tribute, Springboks President Mark Alexander hailed Strydom as a rugby hero, recognizing his pivotal role in both the Springbok squad and the dominant Lions team. Alexander emphasized Strydom’s contributions as part of the legendary 1995 Bok squad that claimed the Webb Ellis Cup on home soil.
Described as a hard-working lock, Strydom’s loss deeply impacts the rugby community in South Africa. Condolences poured in from various quarters, including the Lions Rugby Company, where CEO Rudolf Straeuli, a former teammate, expressed profound sorrow and highlighted the camaraderie within the ’95 group.
This unfortunate incident marks another loss from the iconic ’95 Bok squad, following the passing of other esteemed members in recent years. Strydom’s untimely death resonates as a heavy blow within the rugby fraternity, echoing the sentiments of shared grief from family, friends, and the broader rugby community.
The news of Strydom’s passing comes after a prior harrowing incident in 2014 when he bravely fought off assailants during an attempted carjacking, sustaining severe injuries to his head, skull, and jaw.
Hannes Strydom’s demise adds his name to the list of departed members from South Africa’s 1995 World Cup-winning team, joining the likes of Ruben Kruger, Joost van der Westhuizen, Chester Williams, and James Small.
