1995 Springbok World Cup hero Hannes Strydom has died

Former Springbok lock Hannes Strydom died in a car accident in Mpumalanga on Sunday night.

He was 58.

Strydom was a member of the 1995 Springbok team that famously won the Rugby World Cup on home soil. He started at lock alongside Kobus Wiese when the Boks beat the All Blacks 15-12 in the final at Ellis Park.

Wiese confirmed Strydom's death to News24 on Monday morning.

"Yes, it is so (Strydom's passing) ... At this stage the information is very vague, but I know it happened somewhere in Mpumalanga. He and another person were in a vehicle that collided with a taxi. That's what we know at this stage."

Strydom's wife, Nikolie, told Netwerk24 that the accident occurred on the N4 just before eMalahleni in the direction of Pretoria. Nikolie told the Afrikaans publication she didn't have any further information regarding the circumstances of the accident.

A pharmacist by trade, Strydom started his provincial career at Eastern Province (1986-1988), before moving to Northern Transvaal (now called Bulls) where he played from 1989-1992. He then moved to Transvaal (Lions) where he earned over a century of caps between 1993 and 2000.

He played 21 Tests for South Africa between 1993 and 1997.

Strydom is the fifth member of the 1995 Springbok team to have died, the others being Ruben Kruger, Joost van der Westhuizen, Chester Williams and James Small. Coach Kitch Christie also died in 1998.