Springboks to play for fallen SA U18 prop and Bafana Bafana star
SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks have a unique ability to unite South Africa, and the country needs that sense of togetherness now more than ever.
The World champions secured their second consecutive Nations Championship victory with an impressive 42-28 win over Scotland at Loftus Versfeld. But while there was reason to celebrate on the field, South African sport was left mourning the tragic loss of two promising athletes.
Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams and former South Africa U18 prop Luqobo Makwedini both passed away over the weekend in separate incidents.
The exact circumstances surrounding the death of the 25-year-old Adams are yet to be confirmed. His body was discovered on Saturday at a property in the Cape Town neighbourhood of Schotsche Kloof.
Makwedini, affectionately known as “Bibo”, tragically collapsed during a training session with French club AS Béziers Hérault on Friday. The 20-year-old was rushed to hospital but later passed away.
‘Heartbreaking loss’: RIP to the young Luqobo Makwedini@ASBHOfficiel https://t.co/Mi8se79Bj4
— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) July 11, 2026
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus expressed his condolences during the team announcements for the Wales Test in Durban.
“I don’t know the full scope of what happened and why and how it happened.
“I just know seeing one of your ex-players, anybody in South Africa going through tough times is terrible,” Erasmus told reporters.
“If somebody passed away at a young age, especially the one boy, the guy [Makwedini] that cheered us on and the other one [Adams] is a soccer player.
“I obviously didn’t know them personally, but them doing what they did and trying to do for our country what they do and then to lose them like that, condolences to their families and their loved ones and to their teammates and the people who were close to them.
“Just seeing somebody struggle is terrible, but seeing somebody pass away for I don’t know what reasons, we’ll pray for them, we’ll play for them.
“Just all our love to their families and their loved ones.”
