Joost van der Westhuizen

Joost van der Westhuizen

Player information
Full name	Joost van der Westhuizen Heystek
birthday	20th February 1971
place of birth	Pretoria , South Africa
date of death	February 6, 2017
Place of death	Johannesburg , South Africa
society
society	Career ended
position	Half of the crowd
Clubs as active
Years	society	Games (points)
1993-2003	Blue Bulls Bulls (Super 12)	71 (61)
National team
Years	National team	Games (points)
1993-2003	South Africa	89 (190)
Status: November 8, 2003

Joost van der Westhuizen (born February 20, 1971 in Pretoria , † February 6, 2017 in Johannesburg ) was a South African rugby union player who was active for the " Springboks " as a scrum half and played in the Super 12 for the Bulls . He ended his career in 2003 as a record player for his country. That record was broken by Percy Montgomery at the 2007 World Championships . Van der Westhuizen continued to hold the record for most attempts for South Africa until Bryan Habana equalized it.

He took part in the World Championships in 1995 , 1999 and 2003 , with the Springboks winning the world championship title when they first participated in 1995. Among other things, his tackling against New Zealander Jonah Lomu ensured victory over the All Blacks in the final. In addition, his attack-oriented style of play was added. Again and again he picked up the ball instead of passing it to the back line, and made 38 attempts in his career, more than any other player in his position has ever made.

Van der Westhuizen ended his career after the 2003 World Cup. Except for the Super 12 tournament, he has won all titles that a South African rugby player can win. His achievements were recognized with induction into the International Rugby Hall of Fame . He was also voted the best scrum half in history by Planet Rugby .

After his career, he caused a scandal when a video surfaced in 2008 in which van der Westhuizen had sex with a stripper and consumed cocaine. After the video, his wife broke up with him. Van der Westhuizen was the father of two children.

In May 2011 van der Westhuizen was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), from the consequences of which he died in February 2017 after a short hospital stay at home with his family. He was buried with his family on February 10, 2017, after a public memorial service in the Loftus Versfeld Stadium .

See also

• List of rugby union players with the most international attempts

Web links

• National team statistics
• Profile at SA Rugby
• Joost van der Westhuizen. The International Rugby Hall of Fame, archived from the original on May 11, 2013 ; accessed on February 7, 2017 (English). 
• Michael Calvin: The Last Word: Springbok great, Joost van der Westhuizen, now tackles his biggest foe - paralysis . The Independent , March 17, 2013

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Jamie Pyatt: South Africa legend Joost van der Westhuizen in critical condition. Mail Online , January 20, 2017, accessed February 7, 2017 . 
2. ↑ Antony Sguazzin: Springbok Van Der Westhuizen Sees Hope Following Second Neurone Diagnosis . Bloomberg News , May 25, 2011, accessed February 7, 2017.
   Joost disease a "mystery" . ( Memento of the original from February 7, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. IAfrica.com, June 7, 2011, accessed February 7, 2017. Aislinn Laing: Joost van der Westhuizen interview: “My neurosystem is giving up” . The Telegraph , May 29, 2011, accessed February 7, 2017 
   
3. ↑ Joost died at home, his foundation says. Sport24, February 7, 2017.
4. ^ Joost to be laid to rest on Friday. Sport24, February 6, 2017.