Dawie de Villiers (Photo by Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images)
SA Rugby paid tribute on Sunday to former Springboks captain Dawie de Villiers, who died aged 81.
De Villiers’ family said in a statement that he died at his home in Stellenbosch on Saturday evening. He had been ill for some time.
“Dawie has deteriorated systematically over the past few months, but we have been privileged to be able to provide him with the assistance of professional home help,” the statement said.
SA Rugby chairman Mark Alexander said De Villiers was one of South Africa’s greatest captains in a tribute to the media on Sunday.
“Dawie de Villiers was captain of the Springboks as the winds of change began to blow in the political climate of the sport and his last tour was the 1969-70 ‘demonstration tour’ of the UK,” said Alexander.
“By then he had established himself as one of the Springboks’ greatest captains and the fact that he was carried from the pitch on the shoulders of the great British barbarians Gareth Edwards of Wales and Mike Gibson of Ireland in his last game, proves the respect and reputation in which he was held.
“That respect saw him later being part of those winds of change in political life as our country transitioned to democracy. He was a great servant to the country.
De Villiers was also instrumental in bringing about a democratic South Africa and was heavily involved in the talks that led to the lifting of the ban on the ANC, the subsequent release of Mandela and the first democratic elections in 1994.
During his Test career, De Villiers was on the winning side in two series against the British and Irish Lions (1962 and 1968), France (1967) and Australia (1969), while his international swansong was in the triumphant series against the All Blacks in South Africa in 1970, when the Boks won three of four Tests.
He held the record for most Tests as Springbok captain until Francois Pienaar overtook him in 1995.
“Leading South Africa for as long as he did in the amateur era and holding the record for Tests ordered until professionalism arrived says all you need to know about his stature as a player and leader,” Alexander said.
“He was a great and faithful servant of Springbok rugby and we pay tribute to his dedication and service to the sport and to South African life in general.”
De Villiers is survived by his wife Suzaan, three daughters, one son and nine grandchildren.
