Joost van der Westhuizen

Joost van der Westhuizen (20 February 1971 – 6 February 2017) was a South African former rugby union player. He played as a scrum-half for the national team. He played in the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups.

Joost van der Westhuizen
Joost van der Westhuizen 2014.jpg
Full nameJoost van der Westhuizen Heystek
Date of birth(1971-02-20)20 February 1971
Place of birthPretoria, South Africa
Date of death6 February 2017(2017-02-06) (aged 45)
Place of deathJohannesburg, South Africa
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight88 kg (13 st 12 lb)
SchoolHoërskool F.H. Odendaal
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
SpouseAmore Vittone
Children2
Occupation(s)Businessman
Rugby union career
Position(s)Scrum-half
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1993–2003Blue Bulls()
Correct as of 26 December 2007
Super Rugby
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1996–2003Bulls71(61)
Correct as of 15 September 2012
National team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1993–2003South Africa89(190)
Correct as of 15 September 2012
Correct as of 15 September 2012

On 12 May 2011, van der Westhuizen's publicist announced that he had a muscle-related neural disease. It was believed to be a form of motor neurone disease. Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States[1] have since confirmed that he had motor neurone disease. They believed he had only a 20% chance of living for two to five years.[2]

On 6 February 2017, van der Westhuizen died at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa from complications of motor neurone disease, aged 45.[3]

References

  1. Suttell, Scott (28 July 2011). "If you're flying out of Cleveland or Akron, you're probably paying more". Crain's Cleveland Business. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  2. Doctor confirms Joost's fears, 27 July 2011
  3. "BREAKING: Joost van der Westhuizen has died". Time live. Times Media Group. Retrieved 6 February 2017.

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