Close friend remembers Bok Muller after tragic accident
He also owned land and kept cattle and sheep on his farm near Kingsley.
The death last week of former Springbok and Natal rugby player, Lood Muller, was a personal tragedy for close friend, Dundonian, Koos Peacock.
An emotional Koos told the Courier that he thinks he was probably the last person to see Lood (58) alive as he said his goodbyes after popping in for a visit at Koos and Candice’s Gladstone Street house last Wednesday evening.
“It was around 8pm. Lood was in such a good mood – he always was.
He had come around at about 4.30pm and we did some business in town before having something to eat and a chat. When he left, he gave me a hug. And off he went in this bakkie to his farm in the Kingsely area,” said Koos.
It was only the next morning that it was learned that Lood’s bakkie had gone off the road, past Talana Museum, and plunged down a two-metre embankment, crashing through two trees. It is thought he died instantly. The cause of the accident is yet to be determined.
Koos first met Lood in Pretoria in 1983 when both played rugby for Iscor Pretoria – Koos at flank and Lood prop. In 1984, they were chosen for the SA Iscor rugby team.
“The two of us were the only players chosen who were yet to play provincial rugby so it was a huge honour.”
Lood went on to play two tests for the Springboks – against New Zealand in Cape Town and Australia in Johannesburg in August 1992 – the first tests following readmission. Captained by Naas Botha, Lood shared a powerful scrum with fellow front rankers, Uli Schmidt and Johan Styger and locks Adri Geldenhuys and Adolf Malan and loose forwards Wahl Bartmann, Ian MacDonald and Jannie Breedt.
Lood also played 90 times for his beloved Natal. Lood’s business, Front Row Thatchers, meant that he travelled regularly from his home in Pietermaritzburg to do jobs around the province. He also owned land and kept cattle and sheep on his farm near Kingsley.
Asked what kind of person Lood was, Koos said he ‘was such a loveable guy… full of wit, fun and a good friend.’ Some years ago, Koos took Lood to a Sentraal game and the players were pleased to chat to Lood after the game. He was always humble and never one to try and take over.
Ian MacIntosh, former Springbok and Natal coach, described Lood as an “extremely modest person and a tremendously strong tighthead. He will be remembered as one of rugby’s true gentlemen”.
He is survived by his wife, Paulene, and three children. His daughter gave birth to twins this week. The funeral will be held in Pietermaritzburg on Friday and Koos and Candice will be attending.
