Joost van der Westhuizen

Imagine a super-fast player on a rugby field, that was Joost van der Westhuizen! He was a scrum-half, which is like the quarterback in American football, but for rugby. Joost was so good, he played for his country, South Africa, an amazing 89 times! That's more times than you've been in school for two whole years! He scored lots of tries, which are like touchdowns, helping his team win big games.

Joost was part of a very special team in 1995. They played in the Rugby World Cup, which is like the Olympics for rugby! South Africa won that year, and it was a HUGE deal for their country. Joost was a captain, meaning he was a leader on the field, making sure everyone played their best. He also helped his team win other important games and trophies, like the Tri-Nations and the Currie Cup.

Joost was known for being super quick and clever on the rugby field. He could run fast and pass the ball perfectly to his teammates. He was so good that people all over the world remember him as one of the best scrum-halves ever! He was even put into special Halls of Fame for sports heroes. It’s like being a superhero, but on a sports field!

Later in his life, Joost got sick with a disease called motor neurone disease. It made it hard for him to move and talk, and he sometimes used a wheelchair. But Joost was still a hero! He started a charity called the J9 Foundation to help other people with the same sickness. He showed everyone that even when things are tough, you can still be brave and help others.