World Cup-winning South Africa second-row Hannes Strydom has been described as "one of the great locks of his generation" following his death at the age of 58.
Strydom, who helped the Springboks lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time in 1995, was killed in a car accident on Sunday evening.
He won 21 Test caps between 1993 and 1997, including starting the World Cup final against New Zealand 28 years ago, a triumph which came shortly after the end of apartheid.
Strydom is the fifth member of the Springboks team which began that 15-12 victory over the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg to pass away following the deaths of Ruben Kruger (2010), Joost van der Westhuizen (2017), James Small and Chester Williams (both 2019).
South African Rugby Union president Mark Alexander said in a statement: "Hannes was one of the great locks of his generation and as a member of the Springbok squad from 1995, one of the heroes of our local game.
"To lose yet another member of the iconic Bok squad from 1995 is a heavy blow to the rugby fraternity here in South Africa and our thoughts and condolences are with his wife, Nikolie, their children, Annalie, Hannes and Lucy, family and friends in this very difficult time."
Strydom's international career included facing the British and Irish Lions in 1997, a series which ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Springboks.
His former club, the Lions, also paid tribute to him.
Lions chief executive Rudolf Straeuli, another member of South Africa’s 1995 World Cup squad, said: "We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Hannes.
"We share a tight bond as members of the 1995 group and to lose yet another one of our brothers is a big blow."
