Joost van der Westhuizen dies aged 45

Former South Africa captain Joost van der Westhuizen has died at the age of 45 following a long battle with motor neurone disease.

A World Cup winner with the Springboks in 1995, Van der Westhuizen was regarded as one of the finest scrum-halves in history, scoring 38 tries in his 89 international appearances.

Born in Pretoria, Van der Westhuizen spent his entire senior career at the Blues Bulls but it was at international that he really made his name.

He made his Springboks debut in 1993, the year after the team was readmitted to international rugby, and after helping South Africa to the Tri-Nations Championship in 1998, he was named captain for the 1999 World Cup, only for the team to lose to Australia in the semi-final.

His final appearance came in the 29-9 defeat to New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the 2003 World Cup.

His greatest battle was to come, however, when he was diagnosed with the debilitating motor neurone disease in 2011 and he responded by setting up the J9 Foundation to provide support and care for people with the disease.

A statement from his charity confirmed his passing on Monday.

"It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of Joost," the statement, which was released on Facebook, read.

"He passed away in his home surrounded by his loved ones. He will be sorely missed."

Following his retirement he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007 before becoming a member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame when the two bodies merged in 2014.

Former Ireland captain Brian O'Drisoll paid tribute to the scrum-half on Twitter, posting: "RIP Joost van der Westhuizen. An incredible player and fighter to the end. The first of the new age 9's".

South Africa rugby president Mark Alexander added: "Joost will be remembered as one of the greatest Springboks - not only of his generation, but of all time.

"He also became an inspiration and hero to many fellow sufferers of this terrible disease as well as to those unaffected.

"We all marvelled at his bravery, his fortitude and his uncomplaining acceptance of this terrible burden."

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