The Springboks Test against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday will be preceded by a moment's silence in honour of five South African sporting icons who died recently.
The request for the tribute was made by the Springboks through the SA Rugby Union (Saru) and both the International Rugby Board (IRB) and Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) agreed.
The five South Africans who will be honoured are former Springbok centre Tinus Linee, former Springbok captain Abie Malan, Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, former 800m world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and female boxer Phindile Mwelase.
"These deaths hit our country hard and we're grateful to the IRB and IRFU for allowing us to show our respects at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday," Saru president Oregan Hoskins said in a statement.
Linee suffered from Motor Neuron Disease and passed away on Monday.
Malan, a hooker in his playing days and later a Springbok selector, passed away late last month from complications following knee replacement surgery.
Mulaudzi was killed in a car accident in Mpumalanga on October 24. He was on his way to Johannesburg when he lost control of his car.
Mwelase died the following day at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria after being in a coma for two weeks, while soccer star Meyiwa was shot dead in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, after an alleged robbery a day later.
"Through the deaths of these sporting heroes we saw once again the power of sport in South Africa and from the Springboks, we'd like to pass on our condolences to their family and friends," said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
Springboks and Ireland to play in honour of the fallen SA sports stars
The Springboks Test against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday will be preceded by a moment's silence in honour of five South African sporting icons who died recently.
The request for the tribute was made by the Springboks through the SA Rugby Union (Saru) and both the International Rugby Board (IRB) and Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) agreed.
The five South Africans who will be honoured are former Springbok centre Tinus Linee, former Springbok captain Abie Malan, Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, former 800m world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and female boxer Phindile Mwelase.
"These deaths hit our country hard and we're grateful to the IRB and IRFU for allowing us to show our respects at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday," Saru president Oregan Hoskins said in a statement.
Linee suffered from Motor Neuron Disease and passed away on Monday.
Malan, a hooker in his playing days and later a Springbok selector, passed away late last month from complications following knee replacement surgery.
Mulaudzi was killed in a car accident in Mpumalanga on October 24. He was on his way to Johannesburg when he lost control of his car.
Mwelase died the following day at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria after being in a coma for two weeks, while soccer star Meyiwa was shot dead in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, after an alleged robbery a day later.
"Through the deaths of these sporting heroes we saw once again the power of sport in South Africa and from the Springboks, we'd like to pass on our condolences to their family and friends," said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
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