You South Africa Joost van der Westhuizen supplement

rest in peace, joost

In his prime Joost van der Westhuizen wowed fans with his guts, talent and tenacity – and the ladies swooned over those striking blue-grey eyes and muscular physique. He was so popular you could hear the crowd chanting “Joost! Joost! Joost!” even before the Springboks stepped out on the field at the start of matches during the historic World Cup in 1995. He’ll go down in the history books as one of the best scrumhalves to ever grace the rugby field – and for his fighting spirit that remained evident until he succumbed to the debilitating motor neurone disease (MND) that claimed his life at 45. He never stopped fighting the MND that caused his 1,88-m, 92-kg frame to wither away and became an advocate for the illness through his J9 foundation. GALLO…

my brother, my friend

THEY got up to mischief, played to their hearts’ content and enjoyed carefree days on their grandfather’s farm. There were no thoughts of growing old, feeling frail or saying farewell far too young. Pieter van der Westhuizen remembers his and Joost’s childhood as a happy time. The brothers grew up in a less affluent suburb in the east of Pretoria “but it didn’t bother us because they were good times”, Pieter (47) said in a 2013 interview. “We were full of mischief – those were the days when you could make mischief in a nice, healthy way. Things like playing toktokkie [knocking on strangers’ doors then running away] and helping yourself to the fruit off someone else’s tree – things like that. “Nothing terrible, but it did mean Joost and I often felt…

living his dream

A PERFECT pass that led to the winning kick – and one of the most unforgettable moments in world sport. This was the feat that confirmed what rugby fans had suspected ever since 22-year-old Joost Heystek van der Westhuizen scored a try in his debut Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires: this was a guy with big-match temperament. It was the Boks’ first Rugby World Cup and there was everything to play for. In extra time the Boks scrummed down against the mighty All Blacks on their 25 m line. With the scoreboard reading 12-12 it was make or break. Would Joost blow it if he was caught in possession by the now desperate Kiwis? A knock-on, maybe, a pass to the wrong man or a fumble? Not a chance. After more than…

love, marriage & scandal

IN THE end his kids were the greatest loves of his life and he took every opportunity to share how he lived just for them. He wanted more time with them, he wanted to share things with them, he wanted them to know how much he loved them. Jordan (13) and Kylie (10) were everything to Joost and his life changed when they came along. But before they were even so much as a twinkle in his eye he’d won many hearts. The young rugby star was always something of a charmer – tall, strapping and athletic with piercing blue eyes and long dark lashes. Even a British rugby writer remarked on his looks after the then 23-year-old Joost scored two tries against the Scots on their home ground, Murrayfield. “Scrumhalves aren’t supposed…

warrior to the end

IT WAS a sunny Easter weekend and Joost van der Westhuizen and a longtime doctor friend were clowning around in one of the swimming pools at the luxury Sun City resort in North West. During their horseplay Dr Henry Kelbrick suspected something was wrong: Joost’s right arm seemed much weaker than his left. The doctor was unsettled by it but didn’t say anything at first. Then he noticed Joost was slurring slightly and realised something serious was going on. After they returned home Henry accompanied the once superfit Bok scrum-half to an appointment with Pretoria neurologist Dr Pieter Kritzinger. The specialist confirmed Henry’s suspicions and a provisional diagnosis was made: incurable, degenerative motor neurone disease (MND). Joost was 40. The disease interferes with the brain’s signals to the voluntary muscles and later the…