Former South African second or third line Paul Botha Rossouw died on Tuesday at the age of 53, following a pulmonary embolism, announced the South African Federation (SARU). Retained with the Springboks for a tour of France in 1992, he had to give up on injury after playing two matches during the week which did not count as official capes. He had worn the colors of Rugby Club Toulonnais in the early 2000s.

“Botha was a very versatile and gifted sportsman who excelled not only in rugby but also in athletics as a youngster,” SARU chairman Mark Alexander said in a statement. His talent on the rugby pitches was underlined when he was chosen for the Springboks team while still a student at Potchefstroom, playing with a number of lads who won the Rugby World Cup in 1995 .”