DHL WP to honour Linee at Allianz Park
Photo: Werner Nysschen Photography
DHL Western Province will wear black armbands in Sunday’s clash against Saracens at London’s Allianz Park in honour of the late Tinus Linee, who passed away on Monday from Motor Neuron Disease.
Linee, 45, played 112 matches at centre for Western Province between 1992 and 2001 and will be remembered as a loyal WP player with a no-nonsense approach to defence as displayed by his bone-crunching tackles.
He was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in April 2013 and passed away just over 18 months later after a brave battle.
On Sunday, in the Sanlam Private Investments Challenge clash between hosts Saracens and DHL Western Province, the 2014 Absa Currie Cup champions will honour Linee by wearing black armbands, whilst both teams will observe a minute’s silence before kick-off at Allianz Park (13h00 UK time; 15h00 SA time).
“Tinus was a legend within Western Province rugby circles and I was very saddened to hear of his passing on Monday,” said DHL Western Province captain Juan de Jongh, who is currently on tour with the Barbarians in the United Kingdom.
“His bravery, as a rugby player for Western Province between 1992 and 2001 and especially during the past 18 months, is an example to everyone and I would like to pass on my sympathies to his family and wish them strength during this tough time.
“As professional sportsmen, who are lucky and healthy enough to play a game we love, we are very grateful for being able to do so on a weekly basis. Hopefully us wearing black armbands on Sunday will go a small way towards remembering a legend like Tinus and, at the same time, create some awareness for other MND sufferers out there.”
A Memorial Service will be held for Linee at the Boland Bank Park Cricket Ground (in the Bo Berg Saal) on Thursday, November 6 at 17h00. A funeral will be held in Paarl on Saturday, November 8 at 10h00 at the VGK Huguenot Church in Klein Drakensteinweg.
* Meanwhile, former Springbok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen will be attending Sunday’s match between Saracens and DHL WP at Allianz Park.
Van der Westhuizen is raising awareness for Motor Neuron Disease, a condition he has himself been fighting since 2011.
Earlier this year, in an Absa Currie Cup match between DHL Western Province and the Blue Bulls in Pretoria, both teams wore armbands (DHL WP for Tinus Linee and the Bulls for Joost van der Westhuizen) in a bid to raise awareness in the fight against MND.
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