Cape Town - Former Springbok prop Toks van der Linde has called on South Africans to pray for stricken rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen.
Van der Westhuizen, a former Springbok scrumhalf who suffers from motor neuron disease, has been placed on oxygen to survive.
Joost’s brother, Pieter, told Huisgenoot on Friday that the 45-year-old former Blue Bull star has been on oxygen “for a while”.
At first they tried to keep it quiet for the sake of his two children, Jordan (12) and Kylie (10), but understand that the public is concerned for Joost's well-being.
“It’s incredibly tough. He’s not doing well, but he keeps on fighting,” Pieter said on Friday.
Van der Linde, who played seven Tests for the Boks between 1995 and 2001, took to Instagram on Thursday night to express his concern.
"Think about this legend in your prayers tonight please," Van der Linde wrote.
Van der Westhuizen, who has been ill since 2011, played 89 Tests for the Springboks between 1993 and 2003.
He scored a then-Springbok record 38 tries and is widely regarded as one of the game’s finest-ever scrumhalves.
Joost van der Westhuizen with his children, Jordan and Kylie, and ex-wife Amor Vittone on Christmas eve last year (Photo: Amor Vittone - Facebook)