SA Rugby pays tribute to Wannenburg: 'Who will ever forget try in 2006 victory over All Blacks?'

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander paid tribute to former Springbok loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg, who tragically died over the weekend.

Wannenburg was killed in a multi-vehicle crash in Houston, Texas as a high-speed police chase ended.

He was 41 years old.

Wannenburg made his Springbok debut against France in Paris in 2002 at the age of 21 and went onto play 20 Tests.

READ: TRIBUTE | Pedrie Wannenburg powered Bulls from zeroes to heroes

Alexander stated that Wannenburg always had a smile on his face and was a hard-working man.

"Pedrie will be remembered as one of the first real versatile loose forwards who could play in any position in the back row and even though he played in only 20 Tests, his record in the colours of the Bulls, during a period where they dominated on all levels, is nearly unmatched," said Alexander in a press statement.

"After he finished his career in South Africa, he went on to make a big impact playing club rugby in Ireland, France and later the USA, and he started giving back to the game in a coaching capacity after he retired a few years ago.

"Pedrie was a fun-loving and hard-working man and someone who gave all he had on the pitch, but afterwards always had a smile on his face. He represented his country with aplomb - who will ever forget the try he scored in the narrow victory over the All Blacks in Rustenburg in 2006?

"To lose someone at the cusp of his life after a long and storied rugby career is extremely sad.

"Our thoughts are with his wife, Evette, children, Isabelle and Francois, as well as his parents and other family members, loved ones and friends during this very difficult time."

Wannenburg was a stalwart of the Bulls team and was part of the team that won Super Rugby in 2007, 2009 and