Photo: Brent du Preez / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Joost van der Westhuizen was born on February 20, 1971 in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Public records list Joost van der Westhuizen as a rugby union player. Death is recorded on February 6, 2017, at the age of 45. Education on record includes University of Pretoria. Recorded honors include World Rugby Hall of Fame (2015).
My Take
Joost van der Westhuizen is, to me, the platonic ideal of a scrum-half: 89 caps, 38 tries, and a body that played far bigger than its position usually demands. Being part of the 1995 World Cup-winning Springboks ties him forever to one of sport's great unifying moments. But what stays with me is the second act. His battle with motor neurone disease, fought openly until his death at 45, turned a rugby legend into something larger, a symbol of dignity under impossible odds. The Hall of Fame honored the player; I respect the man who kept fighting after the whistle.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Joost van der Westhuizen
- Name (Japanese)
- ユースト・ファン・デル・ヴェストハイゼン
- Reading
- ゆーすと・ふぁん・でる・ゔぇすとはいぜん
- Born
- February 20, 1971 – February 6, 2017
- Origin
- Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
- Height
- 185 cm
- Occupation
- rugby union player
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Boar
2. Background
- University
- University of Pretoria
Awards & achievements
- 2015 World Rugby Hall of Fame
3. Links
- Official sitehttps://joost.co.za/
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joost%20van%20der%20Westhuizen
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%BB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BB%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%8F%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BC%E3%83%B3
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q971915
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Joost van der Westhuizen born?
Born February 20, 1971.
When did Joost van der Westhuizen die?
Died February 6, 2017, aged 45.
Where was Joost van der Westhuizen from?
Joost van der Westhuizen was from Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
What did Joost van der Westhuizen do?
Joost van der Westhuizen worked as rugby union player.
How tall was Joost van der Westhuizen?
Joost van der Westhuizen was 185 cm.
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