Joost Van der Westhuizen

There are two things that humans take for granted; they are health and time."
- Joost van der Westhuizen.


Incredibly sad to see how this colossus of a man and one of the finest number 9s to play the game has been left debilitated by Motor Neurone Disease. Incredible too to see the mental and physical strength he has to keep the fight going every day.

Cant be easy for a man who spent his whole life as active as he did. Was thinking of this while reading through the thread on mental illness in sport, this is one guy who could easily have succumbed to the dreaded mental illness disease.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24890861

Very sad to see this. Joost was one of my favourite rugby players in the '90s, and was one of the very best around. A big man for a scrum half, and arguably the best in the game for a few years. Hadn't realised he was was suffering from this terrible illness - very sad indeed.

Thomas Clarke wrote:Very sad to see this.  Joost was one of my favourite rugby players in the '90s, and was one of the very best around.  A big man for a scrum half, and arguably the best in the game for a few years.  Hadn't realised he was was suffering from this terrible illness - very sad indeed.

i found this out initially a few months back TC and have been sort of tracking his story since then, all started with a pain in his arm whilst swimming one day which he thought was an old rugby injury. His doctor who was also a close friend didn't like the symptoms he described and immediately sent out him for tests. unfortunately the doctors worst fears were realised.

bocerty wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:Very sad to see this.  Joost was one of my favourite rugby players in the '90s, and was one of the very best around.  A big man for a scrum half, and arguably the best in the game for a few years.  Hadn't realised he was was suffering from this terrible illness - very sad indeed.

i found this out initially a few months back TC and have been sort of tracking his story since then, all started with a pain in his arm whilst swimming one day which he thought was an old rugby injury.  His doctor who was also a close friend didn't like the symptoms he described and immediately sent out him for tests.  unfortunately the doctors worst fears were realised.

Awful indeed, and so shocking to see him in that state, when the last time I saw him was dominating elite athletes on a sports field. He certainly has a great attitude, and will need all his strength of character for what must be a terribly tough battle.

i see former Antrim footballer Anto Finnegan has now revealed he is suffering from the same condition and at 40 years of age too.

bocerty wrote:i see former Antrim footballer Anto Finnegan has now revealed he is suffering from the same condition and at 40 years of age too.

Saw that on BE's Twitter feed yesterday. Seems like only yesterday he was up and down the wing for Antrim. Awful.

Not to sensative the isssue, theres only one Gareth Edwards...

2 posts on rugby on the one night, Boxty - slightly concerning.

Surely there are better things to be discussing, on this the 50th anniversaries of both the death of CS Lewis, and the first episode of Doctor Who.