Truly, one of the greatest players to grace a rugby pitch, never mind in his position of scrum half. He had the power of a forward, the pace of a back and a rare rugby intelligence to identify and create opportunities. RIP, Joost.

I am a Kiwi elderly woman, and have just found this video On youtube..... Alongside Jonah Lomu........this broke My ❤ !!! Love to all his family from NEW ZEALAND.❤❤❤❤ 😢

Sad, somber, sorrowful, crushed, heart broken etc. No adjective can describe how I feel right now! Ever since I became a fan of rugby some 13 years ago I haven't seen many who had what Joost had! Joost van der Westhuizen was arguably the most talented scrum half in the game. He scored 38 tries in 89 tests for South Africa and he did win the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Joost was a leader, a champion, a brother, a husband and a father and he was adored by everybody around him i.e. both teammates and opponents! Joost was 6'1" tall and he was super quick. He always found a way to split open defences and he NEVER EVER gave up! Joost is a World Rugby Hall of Famer. He bravely fought against his condition & defied many odds! Unfortunately, he has left us at the tender age of 45 & has joined the Lord in the Kingdom of Heaven! Joost van der Westhuizen was more than just a legendary world cup winning rugby player! He was a genuinely decent human being who loved people & life as a whole! Joost van der Westhuizen was a man's man! A true Alpha male who was humble and kind! These words are from the bottom of my heart! I & true rugby fans worldwide will NEVER EVER forget you Sir! Your legacy is eternal! My prayers are with your two beautiful children and your wife! I NEVER cry but for you Joost I shed a tear(s). We fuckin love you man!!! 1971-2017 #Joost #Legend #Springbok #Champion #GoneButNeverForgotten #Hero #Captain

As a wallaby fan, RIP Joost. A rugby giant.

I’m from newzealand you were my favourite springbok much respect to u joost RIP

we love you Joost, best scrum half ever, a legend who raised awareness for MND. respect - from a New Zealand rugby dude.

RIP Joost. Gone but never forgotten. Now you can go play rugby for heaven's team!! You will be missed.

Always liked to watch Joost play. Admired him a great deal. I remember being gutted when I learned of his illness. And saddened at the news of his passing. A wonderful athlete, taken harshly and too soon. Rest in peace🇿🇦🇮🇪🤝

Jordan is joost's son and he is my best friend. Rip joost

An amazing scrum-half. You fought so hard. RIP, no more pain Joost. Rest easy. Absolutely heart-broken.

RIP in peace big man! May you forever wear the No.9 jersey in heaven.

Not a perfect man. A man who struggled, who won, who lost. And who never quit. The truth is that is as good as it gets. I’m proud to have seen you fight, play win and lose. Deepest respect to him and his beautiful broken perfect family. 🇨🇦

Hey Joost , what a man you were ! I just loved watching you play. You will always be remembered as one of the greatest players ever, to run onto the rugby field. God be with you JOOST ! YOU have a special place in my heart !! Geoff....

Just watching this but the saying: "Life is not measured by the years lived but about the amount of memories one has created!" I find this very helpful and it makes my life alot easier these days! Thanks JvW!!!!

a true champion who will always be missed

RIP Joost van der westhuizen. I'm not from South Africa but I'm a springboks fan and he was a great half back.

Just a fantastic player at 9. Rest in peace Joost.

REST IN PEACE - A wonderful man - sadly lamented and a shining example of human kind

RIP Legend...you will forever be in our hearts.

How fragile our lives are - the astonishing courage and will to live, without complaining, always smiling and forever humble. On the field and off what an inspiration and lesson for all of us. It breaks my heart that he had to endure such pain & suffering. Safe in the arms of our Heavenly Father, our Creator - RIP Joost we will remember you forever - your children can be so proud to call you their Dadda

RIP Joost. U will never be forgotten you are a super hero legend. God bless you in heaven have a great time there no one will break your record 😪 😭😭😭😭 Joost Van Der Westhuizen Former Springbok legend No one will brake your record 😢 Rip Joost You will be missed 💔

Joost, I have got nothing but admiration for you. You were a star and a legend on and off the rugby field. You brought so much joy and excitement to your fans by your sheer determination, even in your last days. I will always be one of your biggest fans until my dieing day. May GOD show you His mercy, Joost. Your loving friend and admirer. Geoff Laidler

God bless you j and my heart goes out to your family and friends you are a legend and always will be South Wales 🇬🇧 🇬🇧 uk

Cant keep the tears back. Hope he gets a state funeral. RIP Joost !

I am so touched,this so heartbreaking 💔. May your soul continue to rest in peace .all the way from Namibia 🇳🇦 🙏

I am a kiwi and i did not like him, Because he was the best half back in the world, He played the game so hard, R.I.P

A tribute that is leaning towards the negative as far as I'm concerned. Everyone dies, that is not a negative in itself, no, it is the way in which you've lived, and died, that demonstrates a positive or a negative life. If ever there was a positive life lived, Joost's life was precisely that. We all have things in our lifes that we would rather hide or forget, yet he stood up from his wrong doing and showed everyone the real Joost. In the face of terrible odds, he set an example of what life is really about. His compassion and caring for others, while he was the real deserved one, was just extraordinary. This is what makes this life positive, caring and memorable. Joost's life is one of those rare ones that will live on, even in death. Let us never forget...Joost van der Westhuizen!!!

I'm gonna like everybody miss you and you are a fucking legend who will be remembered for many years to come. RIP champ

You can never measure a man by his past or his failures, nor can you dismiss him if fate should deal him an unfortunate blow....The only one who can judge is his own mind, for it alone knows how the fight was fought and how it was won... Be at peace...your Life will not be forgotten nor what contributions were made....

1995 joost and jomo loma Rip South Africa vs Newzelend memories have been made but now bad memories have raised. but we wil move on in memories of you. RIP😢😢😢😢

Dankie joost vir die beste rugby wat jy ons gegee het

The best halfback ever. The game will miss you brother. Aroha to your family brother, from lil ol me and my rugby family in Nz 💯❤

R.I.P Joost may the world remember what you have done in your life for years to come we all will miss you your a legend

You're the world best player #9 in african team I ever seen in the rugby games, it's so good n never forget at all time in rugby union history..RIP N THE WORLD REMEMBER UR NAME

In his time he was the best scrum-half in the world. There is no debating that its Fact!! You will be missed but never forgotten. You're legend will go on forever!!

What a player, the best, chariots are taking you home our freind, RIP from all the UK

The biggest compliment a person could ever have , let alone a sports star is when you're instantly known by just 1name ...joost will always be known for just 1 man...r.i.p legend joost

Rus In Vrede ons legend

May God welcome you with open arms, Joost.

A true great who will be mourned all over the world....R.I.P

A great player in anybodies book.

I remember watching All Blacks vs Springboks in that era and it felt like often NZ were on top except for Joost . At any moment he could do something ,score a a try against the run of play, make a match winning tackle and wrench the game back in favour of the Boks. What a champion

Lekke Joost, jou doring draad !!! We will miss your energy, God bless you Legend.

a true hero from an ab fan rip joost bless you wherevere you are

Thunder heart never gave up something special has gone from us but he leaves so many memories one of the best ever for sure lightening quick feet to rip my freind

You made your country proud Joost. We will never forget you. EVERYONE makes mistakes in life but not many people can/have done what you've done. RIP

RIP Joost. What a great player. So sad, taken too early

He fought the fight for sure. R.I.P.

what now south Africa our legend RIP

R.I.P Joost. inspiration on and off the field. will always look at your motivational courage to pick ne up in tough time. rest easy champ. from a kiwi

One of the best to have played the game. Only the good die young, RIP Bro.....

he was the best springbok of his era.....huge respect for the guy...RIP

His spirit will live on in all those that he inspired so his name will be spoken for years to come. A true legend never dies and he is one of many that stood their ground in 1995. You brought toughness, speed, beauty and grace to one of the hardest positions on the rugby field. A player that can control the volume of a crowd is a player indeed. I am sure Jonah will be waiting for you and his day will be all the brighter for it.

he fight against his sickness and won 6 years...where the docters told him 2 year but he did not give up.... true spirit of rugby that are..... will never forget you R.I.P 1971 - 2017..... 9

Thank you to all the Rugby supporting World for your best wishes, It means so much to us here in South Africa. Thank you! May the best team Win!

Great player. Really enjoyed watching him play.

RIP Joost. You fought a good fight! Always in our thoughts and our hearts 💕 You will be missed!

So sad. May his soul rest in peace 😢

The greatest half back EVER

Very good player, it's about his life. Not mistakes in personal life. Everyone is human and those who judge him, find out a bit more about what has been done behind his back. Just a man and did what he did best on the field regardless of what he had to put up with....

So sad. What a player.

Goosebumps v/d Westhuizen... you watched him play, you get goosebumps

Sincere, heartfelt, sympathy for the family-a great, tears. Cruel.

You are remembered!

Your legacy will live on RIP ou boer vriend !

RIP sir! No more pain and no doubt at peace. Kia kaha

RIP so sad , you were so brave , you will live in our hearts forever.

So sad. A true great. Hated him when England played the Boks he was just so damned good. RIP a true Legend

how can any human dislike this,they cant be human,r.i.p boet

I salute you brother........with respect and HONOR......Rest in peace......God blessed

What a tragic loss for Rugby in your country....this young man left his mark and made a difference....

I hope that his children understand how highly we all regarded their father. I am a proud Englishman but also a proud rugby player and I am honoured to have seen this giant of the game play.

Alle sterkte vir die familie en jy sal gemis word.

RIP Joost you will always be rememberd as a good rugby player and a superhero. I will miss you 😣

Joost and Jannie de Beer are the bogeymen of my childhood. Joost lives on in the spirit of the Bok team and I have nothing but admiration tinged with fear for him. I'm glad that I got to see him. England.

rest in peace Joost

Springbok legend,Northern transvaal god!!!!

RIP in Joost, you're a legend & way you positively & valiantly fought your crippling MND diseases is evem more inspirational than your amazing rugby successes. RIP you courageous soul

Rest In Peace Joost! You were truly a legend.

I can't believe he is gone # RIP Joost

we gonna mis champ u always be number one

Joost jy is vir baie van ons eintlik een voor....weg van swaarkry..kwaad..hartseer..moeg..honger..dors..en al die swaarkry op aarde. Ek weet jy het jou hart vir Christus gegee...en slapies nou lekker tot Hy met die wolke kom.

Greatest 9 ever

My favorite Bok, from a Kiwi. RIP Bro.

What a bloody loss!!

Joost dankie vir die man wat jy was.Ons sal jou mis.RIP 😰😰😰

enjoy playing with Jonah again Joost true legend of the game

Why show or mention the scandal when we lose such a great, show his greatness, achievements, triumphs instead. R.I.P. brother, you were and are an inspiration to us all and a hero forever. Now you can truly be pain free and continue to play the only sport they play in heaven now and forever.

Rest in peace, brother.

THE GUY THAT GAVE THE HOSPITAL PASS TO YOUR #10 AND BRIAN LIMA SMASHED HIM IN THE 2003 RWC! LOL YOU WERE A LEGEND BROTHER. AWSOME PLAYER! FROM AN ABS SUPPORTER

20 years ago I had to make a collage/poster of my favourite Rugby player for school. RIP legend

Such a class player such a way to go. So sad

RIP All time greatest scrumhalf

giant of a man RIP

This guy was a freak. The closest I've ever seen to the complete halfback.

DEADLY!!!!!! Need I say more..

this is very sad and I sorry for your lost

we going to miss you joosie rest in peace rugby legend hero

A rugby super star. RIP.

No one wins in life God bless you all