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Peter de Villiers: Daughter’s death was God’s will

Cape Town - Former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers says his daughter Odille ‘fought to the bitter end’ before losing her cancer battle.

After experiencing ‘sinus symptoms’ last year, Odille went to see a doctor, according to You magazine.

Subsequent tests showed a large, malignant tumour in her chest - an aggressive lymphoma - that was too close to her heart to be surgically removed.

Odille had eight chemotherapy courses over the next seven months, followed by 20 radiation sessions, and her condition seemed to be improving.

But last Sunday, she passed away at the age of 28.

A memorial service was held at The Rock church in Paarl on Friday, which would have been her and husband Scott’s one-year wedding anniversary.

‘It was God’s will,’ De Villiers told You magazine.

‘It was in His hands.

‘I had her for 28 joyous years,’ he added.

‘I choose to live in those 28 years, rather than in the years that might’ve been.

‘She’d fought to the bitter end. I’d never seen anyone fight like that.’

De Villiers, 62, coached the Springboks between 2008 and 2011, was the director of rugby at the University of the Western Cape between 2012 and 2015 and most recently coached Zimbabwe's national team in 2018-19.

During his tenure as Springbok coach, De Villiers won five out of 11 Tests against the All Blacks - a better record than most Bok coaches in recent times.

Other notable achievements for De Villiers as Bok coach was a Tri-Nations win in 2009, as well as a series win over the British and Irish Lions that same year.
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