SA Rugby mourns death of Springbok

SA Rugby boss Mark Alexander has passed on his condolences to the family and friends of former Springbok loose forward Botha Rossouw, who sadly passed away due to a pulmonary embolism in the early hours on Tuesday.

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BOTHA ROSSOUW CAREER SUMMARY

Rossouw, 53, played for the Leopards, Vodacom Bulls and SWD Eagles and was selected as a member of the Springbok tour squad to Europe at the end of 1992 – the first Bok tour since re-admission to international rugby – while still playing rugby at North West University.

After playing for the Leopards – then still called Western Transvaal – Rossouw moved to Pretoria to play for the Vodacom Bulls and he concluded his career in South Africa with the Eagles in George. He played his last provincial game for SWD in 1998, also played in France and went into business his playing days.

On the Bok tour of France and England, Rossouw played in two midweek matches before he picked up and injury, and he was replaced in the squad by FC Smit.

Confirmation of Rossouw’s passing comes a just a week after the death of another former Springbok, Theuns Stofberg who tragically died in a card accident in Stellenbosch.

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WHAT SA RUGBY BOSS HAD TO SAY ON SPRINGBOK’S PASSING

“Botha was a very versatile and good sportsman, who not only excelled in rugby, but also in track and field athletics as a young man,” said Mr Alexander.

“His talent on the rugby field was underlined when he was chosen for the Springbok tour squad when still a student in Potchefstroom, playing with a number of guys who went on to win the Rugby World Cup in 1995.

“Botha died at a young age and our thoughts and condolences are with his daughter Rochelle, other family and friends in this very difficult time.”

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