Gerhard Mans—Namibia’s first rugby captain after the country gained independence—was killed after being hit by a car while cycling near the capital, Windhoek, on Wednesday
Namibian rugby is in mourning after it was confirmed national icon Gerhard Mans was killed while cycling with his son on Wednesday.
Informante reported the 60-year-old was struck by an unlicensed white BMW on the Western Bypass near Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. It’s understood Mans was out with a practice group when his bike was hit from behind.
Images of the vehicle in question show the left side of its windscreen shattered inwards, with damage also to its left-front bumper. The driver of the car was reportedly arrested at the scene and, under Namibian law, will be charged with ‘culpable homicide’.
Mans made 27 Test appearances for Namibia between 1990 and 1994, serving as skipper for 26 of those games. The winger was named his country’s first captain after it gained independence from South Africa in 1990.
Prior to that, he also captained South West Africa and helped the team win the ‘B’ division of the Currie Cup in 1987. Following their promotion to the ‘A’ league for the 1988 campaign, he led the side to famous victories over Western Province at Newlands, as well as beating Transvaal at Ellis Park.
Mans’ performances saw him earn a nomination for the South Africa Rugby Player of the Year award in 1988. He ultimately retired from the sport after Namibia failed to qualify for the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, though he later took a serious interest in cycling.
His son, Gerhard Junior, followed the latter lead by becoming a professional cyclist. The 34-year-old Mans even represented Namibia at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as well as winning the time trial event at the 2015 Namibian National Road Championships.
Mans scored 26 tries for Namibia, a national record that stood for 25 years before Chrysander Botha set a new standard with 28 tries in August 2018. The former’s feat is even more impressive considering Botha made 55 appearances for his country, more than double the amount Mans managed.
A statement from the Cheetahs—Mans’ first professional club, based in Bloemfontein, where he attended university—paid tribute to their former player on Facebook : “Free State Rugby has learnt with great sadness of the tragic passing of former player Gerhard Mans. It’s a sad day for the Cheetah family. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.”
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