Pedrie Wannenburg Dawie de Villiers

It was a devastatingly sad weekend for lovers of South African sport – not just rugby – with the news of the deaths of two former Springboks. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images

RIP: Double tragedy rocks Springbok rugby

It was a devastatingly sad weekend for lovers of South African sport – not just rugby – with the news of the deaths of two former Springboks.

Pedrie Wannenburg Dawie de Villiers

It was a devastatingly sad weekend for lovers of South African sport – not just rugby – with the news of the deaths of two former Springboks. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images

It was a devastatingly sad weekend for lovers of South African sport – not just rugby – with the news of the deaths of two former Springboks.

Mzansi woke up to the tragic news on Saturday that former Springbok loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg had been killed in a multiple-car crash in Texas in the United States.

A 16-year-old driver had attempted to flee the police and crashed into the vehicle in which Wannenburg and his family were driving.

IMAGES | PEDRIE WANNENBURG: 5 INSANE CRASH SCENE PICTURES (WARNING!)

Wannenburg, along with his eight-year-old son Francois, were airlifted to hospital but sadly Wannenburg succumbed to his injuries.

He was 41.

READ | TEENAGER CHARGED WITH ‘FELONY MURDER’ AFTER PEDRIE WANNENBURG DEATH

Thankfully, Wannenburg’s wife Evette and daughter Isabel, 10, miraculously escaped unharmed.

Earmarked for higher honours since his school days at Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale in South Western Districts, Wannenburg was a member of the SA Under-21 team that won the World Championship om home soil in 2002.

He made his Springbok debut against France in Paris in 2002 at the age of 21 and would go on to win 20 Test caps.

READ | PEDRIE WANNENBURG: TEENAGE DRIVER IN DEADLY CRASH NAMED

Wannenburg was member of the Bulls team that won Super Rugby titles in 2007, 2009 and 2010, and the Currie Cup from 2002 to 2004, 2006 (shared) and 2009.

He was also the first player to reach 100 caps in Super Rugby and set a record of 99 consecutive games.

READ | RASSIE ERASMUS: WELL DONE EVAN ROOS, YOU CAN’T BE IGNORED!

In 2010, he moved to Ireland and played for Ulster, followed by stints with French clubs Oyonnax and Castres, before he moved to the USA and played for Denver and Austin.

Wannenburg retired from the game in 2018 and then started coaching in the USA.

For the very best – and latest, trusted coverage – of the ongoing investigation into Wannenburg’s death, click HERE

READ | VARSITY CUP FINAL: MATIES V UP-TUKS TODAY!

Second death of a Springbok in 24 hours

Just as South Africans were coming to terms with Wannenburg’s death, came the news that former Springbok captain Dawie de Villiers had died after a long battle with cancer.

He was 81.

De Villiers was born on 10 July 1940 in Burgersdorp. After he finished his schooling at Bellville High School, he studied theology at Stellenbosch University.

READ | OUT-OF-FAVOUR SHARKS SCRUMHALF HEADS UP THE N3 TO JOHANNESBURG

He was later a minister in the old National Party regime, but also in the first democratically elected government under the late former president, Nelson Mandela. De Villiers also served as South African ambassador in London, as well as was a lecturer in philosophy (in which he completed his doctoral studies) and a reverend in the Dutch Reformed Church.

Provincially, De Villiers played scrumhalf for Western Province, Boland and the Lions (then still Transvaal). He played 25 Tests and a total of 53 matches for the Springboks between 1962 and 1970, and was captain in 22 Tests – the first against the All Blacks in New Zealand in 1965 at the age of 25.

READ | SPRINGBOK SCRUMHALF COBUS REINACH TO GO UNDER THE KNIFE

During his Test career, De Villiers was on the winning side in two series against the British & 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 Springboks won three of the four Tests.

De Villiers also held the record for the most number of Tests as Springbok captain until he was overtaken by Francois Pienaar in 1995.

READ | BOK DOCCIE TRAILER REVEALS RASSIE COMMENT: WE MUST CANCEL THE TEST, NOW!

He is survived by his wife Suzaan, three daughters and a son, as well as nine grand-children.

The South African website extends its sympathies to family and friends of both Pedrie Wannenburg and Dawie de Villiers.

READ | SPRINGBOKS TO SET UP CAMP IN TOULON FOR 2023 RUGBY WORLD CUP