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SA Rugby mourn passing of junior Valke player

Cape Town - SA Rugby President Oregan Hoskins on Wednesday extended his condolences to the family and team-mates of Valke Coca-Cola Youth Week lock Jean-Jireh Yamwimbi, who passed away on Tuesday night.

Yamwimbi, a 17-year old Rhodesfield Technical High School pupil, participated in the Under-16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week in Oudtshoorn last year and was named in the union’s Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week team for the tournament at Kearsney College in Durban next week.

“On behalf of SA Rugby I would like to extend sincere condolences to Jean-Jireh’s family and to his team-mates who were preparing to travel to the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week with him,” said Mr Hoskins. “This is a very sad day for South African rugby.

“We are halfway through the SA Rugby Youth Weeks, which is a time in which we celebrate the youth who share a deep passion for the game, and a week in which they have the opportunity to showcase their talent against the best players from other provinces, and instead we are mourning the passing of a player who had so much to offer.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jean-Jireh’s family, friends and his Valke team-mates at this very sad time.”

As a sign of respect to Yamwimbi, the Valke will not replace the player in their traveling group, and will have a squad of only 22 players at the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week.

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