South African World Cup winner Joost van der Westhuizen dies at 45

FILE PHOTO: South Africa's Joost van der Westhuizen trains in a Melbourne gym during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, November 3, 2003. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Joost van der Westhuizen, who as scrumhalf for South Africa triumphed at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, died on Monday at age 45 after a long battle with motor neurone disease, his charitable foundation said.

Hailed as one of South Africa's greatest, Van der Westhuizen played 89 tests between 1993 and 2003 and scored 38 test tries for the Springboks, a record at the time. He captained the team to the bronze medal at the 1999 World Cup.