President of SA Rugby, Mark Alexander, has sent condolences to the family of former Springbok Women’s player Mariska Loots who passed away on Wednesday.
She was 38.
Loots, who played scrumhalf, toured Wales and England in 2005 with the Springbok Women and played against Wales ‘A’ in her international career.
She started playing rugby for the Goodwood Gazelles in Cape Town and represented Western Province for several years.
‘Tragic’
“It is tragic to lose such a talented individual when she still had so much to offer,” said Alexander.
“Mariska was a trailblazer in many ways, as a member of the first women’s team to represent South Africa in rugby abroad. Later in her life, she stayed involved in the game and gave back through our friends at TAG Rugby.
“Our condolences go out to Mariska’s family, friends and loved ones, who lost a daughter, sister and a friend.”
Loots also represented South Africa in TAG Rugby and captained South Africa at the TAG World Cup.
‘Passing of Mariska Loots leaves the world a poorer place’
Later, she was appointed to the SA TAG Rugby board to oversee development, where she was hoping to make even more of an impact when it came to making the game more accessible to women and improving it for them.
One of her former team-mates with the Springbok Women and Western Province, Laurian Johannes-Haupt, said the passing of Loots leaves the world a poorer place.
“Mariska was just a wonderful person with the biggest heart,” said Johannes-Haupt, currently an assistant coach with the Springbok Women.
“She cared for so many people and had such a compassion for those in need. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.”