Rugby great and former Springbok captain, Dawie de Villiers passed away at the age of 81. How did he die?
Dawie de Villiers was among those greats who have captained the South Africa national rugby union team. He was a dominant figure in rugby during the 1960s. The legendary late radio commentator Gerhard Viviers used to call him Dawie ‘De Viljee’.
During his prodigious athlete career, de Villiers had played 25 Tests for the Springboks between 1962 and 1970. He had last captained the team to its most memorable 3-1 series win over the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
The tragic news of de Villiers’s passing has arrived on the news. Learn about the circumstances surrounding his death as well as his career highlights in the sections below.
Rugby: Former Springbok Captain Dawie de Villiers Has Died Aged 81
Legendary captain Dawie de Villiers passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2022. He died after a long battle with an illness.
It was de Villiers’s family who had confirmed the news to the media. The family statement read that he was seriously ill in recent days.
“Dawie has been systematically deteriorating over the last few months, but we were privileged to be able to provide him with the assistance of professional help at home”
Many of his followers have expressed their genuine sympathies to his family members in the wake of the news.
Who Was Dawie de Villiers? His Wikipedia
Dawie de Villiers was born on July 10, 1940, in Burgersdorp, as mentioned in his Wikipedia bio.
It was in 1962. he played his first international test against the British Lions. He played his first test as the Springbok Captain on 31th of July 1965.
De Villiers was no behemoth at 1.71m and 73kg, but he was the prototypical scrumhalf with a terrific pass, pace, agility, and an eye for a space.
After retiring from the sport, de Villiers once again excelled in politics. He was elected to the House of Assembly as MP for Johannesburg West. He was subsequently elected MP for Piketberg, Cape Province.
Before his death, the Rugby great was an ordained minister in the Dutch Reformed Church.
Dawie de Villiers’ Wife & Family
Dawie de Villiers had been married to Suzaan Mangold. They are parents to four children; three daughters and a son.
Talking about his parents, de Villiers was one of three children of Elsa and Coenie de Villiers. His father was a railway clerk and organizer of the National Party and a Member of Parliament.