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Robby Nimmo

The breathtaking tenacity of Joost van der Westhuizen on the field was matched only by that the World Cup-winning former Springbok and Hong Kong Sevens star displayed in his long fight against the debilitating disease that eventually claimed his life earlier this year.
Van der Westhuizen died of motor neurone disease (MND) in February.
Apart from being an integral part of the team that made history when South Africa won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Van der Westhuizen played in the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong in 1997. He was also a fixture on the Hong Kong speaking circuit.
“I had the choice to live or die. I could sit and home and die, or I can live my life,” Van der Westhuizen told The Telegraph.
Watch: Joost van der Westhuizen’s interview


“I have a platform and now I am using it to help anybody with MND. Now I am living my life the way I want to help others.”
Van der Westhuizen’s story will live on not only because of his rugby career, but for the legacy he left for MND sufferers, which he elevated into something eternal, and players of his era remember him on and off the pitch.
Chester Williams, Springbok great
When I think of Joost, not only do I think of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. I remember him in Hong Kong for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1997.
Even though we’d had that stunning victory [over the All Blacks] in Ellis Park, we never thought we were going to get that far in Hong Kong. New Zealand and Fiji dominated at that time. Yet, unbelievably, we got into the final and with a few minutes to go, [Waisale] Serevi came in and wove his magic. The rest is history and they beat us 24-21.
Joost was steely. He was feisty. He was determined and completely focused. He would look at every game we lost and analyse what went wrong to better it next time. He never gave up.

This was one of the great strengths he bought to his illness. This is what his teammates loved about him, and so did all of South Africa.
When he was diagnosed with MND he had not long separated from his wife [well-known South African singer Amor Vittone]. Their two young children were their priority. They never divorced.
It’s amazing how well they and his whole family coped. Joost’s mother was also a rock, as was his brother, Peter. When people could not understand what Joost was saying, Peter would lip-read and eased everyone into understanding that Joost was still the same person on the inside.
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Peter showed great patience, love, dedication and understanding. Everyone around Joost did.
Because of his dedication to creating awareness and seeking donations to help research the disease, he was seldom out of the headlines.

In South Africa, his final days and passing dominated the media for two weeks.
He never wanted to be treated as anything other than a normal, everyday man. His coffin and funeral reflected that. And everyone was welcome at the funeral. That was him. He was not one for airs and graces. The story of his passing around the world also celebrated his incredible and way too short life.
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He’s left a huge lasting legacy for MND in South Africa.
Joost had been to Hong Kong as a public speaker. He was a great Bok spokesperson and for MND as he was very straightforward.
We say that he is with Madiba [Nelson Mandela] now, and they are both working their magic for us all.

Chris Gordon, former Hong Kong player
Joost was one of my all-time favourite players – super fit, extravagantly skilled, fast and quite tall for a scrum half. But the attribute that really stood out for me was his competitiveness.
We were fortunate enough to play against Joost in the 1997 World Cup Sevens. He was at the top of his game then – the premier number nine in world rugby, having recently won the Rugby World Cup .
The Boks had a sensational team for the World Cup Sevens, with guys like Bobby Skinstad, Chester Williams and Andre Venter, and only narrowly lost the final that year to the Serevi-inspired Fiji.
I caught up with him a couple of times in Dubai when the MND had really taken hold. He used to go there quite regularly to raise the profile of the disease.

Stuart “The Moose” Krohn, former Hong Kong captain
I encountered Joost when I captained Hong Kong in the 1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens. I met him for this photo before the tournament started, and again for the coin toss before we played South Africa.
Joost was intense. No nonsense. Straight up. Just before half-time I was in a head-butting contest with Andre Venter. He was squaring up to fight when Joost said, “No, Andre.” That was the end of it. It was a great game, we scored first and lost something like 24-7.
I was very sad to hear of his battle and way too early end of life. It’s a reminder to treasure every day.
Jean de Villiers , former Springbok captain
His legacy is a big one that not only rugby players can learn from, but people from all walks of life. He had an amazing rugby career, but then made some bad choices after his playing career. Shortly after that, he was diagnosed with MND and he began his fight against the disease. The awareness he created about the disease is where his legacy lies.
Life wasn’t always smooth sailing for Joost, but he managed to get the ship on course again and showed his fighting character right till the end.

I only played one game with him, but he was a very competitive person and wanted the very best out of every player.
I’ll always remember all the amazing tries he scored, but the one moment that will always stick out is the tackle on Jonah Lomu in the 1995 World Cup final.
People will remember the many highlights of his rugby career, but I think the battle with the disease will be the lasting defining memory many will have of him.
For South Africans, he signified the fight that we all need to achieve something.
Neil de Kock, former Springbok
I will remember him as someone I tried to emulate on a weekly basis growing up as a teenager in South Africa. Others will remember him either as an unbelievable asset in their team or an unbelievable nightmare to play against.
Joost left a similar legacy both on and off the pitch. One of relentless commitment, incredible fight – even when up against the odds – and someone who could always stand tall with pride knowing he gave everything.

I was fortunate enough to play against him and also to serve as his understudy for the Springboks. As you would expect, he loved to win in everything, be it darts, bowls or pool. When he trained or was part of the team, the effort from everyone seemed to increase by 20 per cent, such was the influence he had on those around him.
Like everyone, I remember him for his tackle on Jonah Lomu in the 1995 World Cup final. However, I can’t forget him being a target in the Samoan game and after being on the receiving end of some horrific late hits, he continued to get up and soldier on and perform at his peak.
People all over the world will remember him as someone who continued to inspire by taking his illness head-on for so many more years than expected.
He epitomised what a Springbok should be in the pride he had for the Springbok jersey.


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A portrait of Joost van der Westhuizen during a memorial service at Loftus rugby stadium in February. Photo: AFP

South African scrum-half and captain Joost Van Der Westhuizen (front) is tackled by Australian fullback Matthew Burke (R) during the Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Australia and South Africa at Twickenham stadium 30 October 1999. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO [22SEP2013 SUNDAY SPORTS]

JOH05:SPORT-RUGBY;JOHANNESBURG,SOUTH AFRICA,24 JUN 95 - New Zealand winger Jonah Lomu is tackled by South African scrumhalf Joost Van der Westhuizen during the Rugby World Cup final played against New Zealand June 24. On left is South African centre Hennie le Roux, on right No 8 Mark Andrews. pdn/Photo by Mark Baker REUTERS

South African Chester Williams poses for a photograph at the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel. Williams is a former South African rugby union rugby player. 23JUN14 [03AUGUST2014 MY LIFE POST MAGAZINE]

South Africa's captain Jean de Villiers speaks to the media during a press conference in Auckland on September 13, 2013. South Africa will play the New Zealand All Blacks on September 14 in the Rugby Championship rugby union match. AFP PHOTO / Michael Bradley

(FILES) This file photo taken on June 24, 2015 shows Former South African Rugby World Cup winner team Captain Francois Pienaar (L) assisting his former teammate flyhalf Joost van der Westhuizen (Front), during a re-enactement of the team photo from the 1995 Rugby World cup victory on June 24, 2015 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. South African rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen, who was battling motor neurone disease, died on February 6, 2017. The 45-year-old former scrum-half, a Springboks captain who won the 1995 World Cup, was diagnosed with the condition in 2011. The incurable disease which damages parts of the nervous system left van der Westhuizen confined to a wheelchair, as he was given two to five years to live when he was diagnosed. / AFP PHOTO / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA

South Africa's Joost van der Westhuizen tackled by a New Zealand opponent during the match New Zealand vs South Africa. Rugby World Cup Sevens. 23 March 1997

South African World Cup winner Joost van der Westhuizen dies at 45

South African scrum-half Joost Van Der Westhuizen is tackled by French props Pieter De Villiers and Jean-Jacques Crenca during a rugby test match in 2001 at the Stade de France, Paris. Photo: AFP

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 8, 2003 at Telstra Dome Stadium in Melbourne shows South African scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen clearing the ball out of the scrum during the Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between New Zealand and South Africa. South African rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen, who was battling motor neurone disease, died on February 6, 2017. The 45-year-old former scrum-half, a Springboks captain who won the 1995 World Cup, was diagnosed with the condition in 2011. The incurable disease which damages parts of the nervous system left van der Westhuizen confined to a wheelchair, as he was given two to five years to live when he was diagnosed. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Wood

Springbok legend Joost Van der Westhuizen in fight for his life

Joost van der Westhuizen at home in Johannesburg with his son Jordan and dog Buddy earlier this year. Photo: Getty Images

Joost van der Westhuizen brushes off two tacklers during a test match against France in November 2001. Photo: AFP

Springbok star Joost van der Westhuizen plays out his last days

Joost van der Westhuizen

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Mould-breaking South Africa scrum-half is remembered as much for his playing genius as for his tenacious fight against the crippling disease that eventually claimed his life
