The former Springbok rugby captain Dawie de Villiers has passed away at the age of 81 on Saturday.

According to Netwerk24, De Villiers’ family confirmed the news, saying he passed away yesterday evening at his house in Stellenbosch.

De Villiers represented South Africa in 25 test matches between 1962 and 1970, captaining 22 of those matches.

After his rugby career, De Villiers got involved in politics and was appointed, amongst others, as the South African ambassador in London in 1979. During his career as a politician he was also a minister for several years.

According to News24, De Villiers was also an ordained minister in the Dutch Reformed Church.

 

Happy Birthday to Springbok no: 382 Dawie de Villiers(School: Bellville) Test summary: Tests: 25 Tries: 3 First Test: 21 Jul 1962 Springbok captain 1965-1970 pic.twitter.com/ypMhmwlpCK

 

— Ruggaworld 🏆🦁 🇿🇦 (@Ruggaworld) July 10, 2019

 

I bumped into Dr Dawie de Villiers in a shop last year, and asked him whether he wouldn’t consider making himself available for Springbok duty again, as we’re suffering from slow service. He laughed, saying he also doesn’t understand the problem. “You just take the ball and pass”

 

— Hezz 📚🇿🇦💙💛 (@HSteel5) May 26, 2019

 

“’n Hoogs bekwame en ervare Suid-Afrikaner wat ‘n uitstekende bydrae tot harmonie in ons nasie gelewer het.” – Nelson Mandela

 

Dawie de Villiers My lewensreis: Springbok, Politikus, Diplomaat is nou beskikbaar: https://t.co/LDClivIukQ pic.twitter.com/a4Zt8BlfgY

 

— @PenguinBooksSA (@PenguinBooksSA) March 31, 2018