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Moment’s silence for SA stars

PUBLISHED: November 7, 2014


The Springboks Test against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday will be preceded by a moment’s silence in honour of five South African sporting icons who recently passed away.

The request for the tribute was made by the Springboks through the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and both the International Rugby Board (IRB) and Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) agreed.

The five South Africans who will be honoured are former Western Province and Springbok centre Tinus Linee, former Springbok captain Abie Malan, Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, former 800m world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and boxer Phindile Mwelase.

“These deaths hit our country hard and we’re grateful to the IRB and IRFU for allowing us to show our respects at the AVIVA Stadium on Saturday,” said SARU President, Mr Oregan Hoskins.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said: “Through the deaths of these sporting heroes we saw once again the power of sport in South Africa and from the Springboks, we’d like to pass on our condolences to their family and friends.”

Linee suffered from Motor Neuron Disease and passed away on Monday, November 3.

Malan, a hooker in his playing days who was also a Springbok selector, passed away late last month from complications following knee replacement surgery. (DHL WP will be playing in black armbands on Sunday – against Saracens – and will also observe a moment’s silence.)

Meyiwa was tragically murdered two weeks ago (Sunday, October 26), a day after Mwelase passed away due to injuries suffered during a boxing bout and two days after Mulaudzi, who was killed in a car accident.