Former South Africa centre Tinus Linee died Monday in Cape Town aged 45, a South African Rugby Union (SARU) statement said.
Linee, who represented the Springboks in nine non-Test tour matches between 1993 and 1994, had been battling motor neuron disease for 19 months.
He was part of three Western Province Currie Cup-winning teams and turned to coaching when he retired 13 years ago, working in Cape Town and Romania.
“His fighting spirit on the field and, more recently, off the field after being diagnosed with motor neuron disease were the measure of the man,” said SARU president Oregan Hoskins.
“We have lost a Springbok brother and it made for a sombre mood in the team room today,” said coach Heyneke Meyer from Ireland, where the team are preparing for a Test.
“To have one so strong and brave struck down by this disease is cruel. We will be thinking of Tinus and his family when we take the field on Saturday.”
