Doctor Louis Luyt, a big man and bigger figure in Rugby Circles in South African Rugby, passed away ealier today, 1 February 2013.
Luyt was born in the Karoo on 18 June 1932 and went on to represent Orange Free State at Rugby.
He became the President of Transvaal Rugby Football Union during a particularly turbulant time in the Union’s history and trasnsformed the Union into arguably the richest Provincial sporting body in the world.
The Union was transformed into the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) under Luyt’s leadership.
Luyt later became the President of the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) and was instrumental in the re-admission of SA Rugby into international competition as well as the “unificiation” of the seperate Rugby bodies in South Africa into a single Rugby sporting body and the transformation of Rugby Union from an amateur sport into a professional sport.
After leaving Rugby Luyt went into politics and formed the Federal Alliance and served as a Member of Parliament before his retirement.
Although the cause of his passing have not yet been made public, it is known that he had suffered from a heart ailment for some time.
As soon as more details become available they will be added to this Article.
Rest In Peace, ou grote.
Difficult you might have been, maybe you used your Fax Machine a few too many times… but you were a rugby man and a very good business man!
You meant a lot for SA Rugby and for the Lions.
You left the Lions as the strongest Rugby Union in South Africa and most probably in the world in 2000, just for those after you to cost the Lions big time.
You will be remembered for Fertilizer, Beer, Rugby… Balito… and your Fax Machine.
R.I.P.
@ grootblousmile:
And also perhaps a newspaper scandal?
Another of Rugby’s “great” men passes on.
He never came across as being so old, but then people who are always active and full of life rarely do.
My condolences to all of Doc Luyt’s family and friends. I’m sure he’ll have a harsh word or two for anyone who steps out of line wherever he is now.
Sad to see a rugby icon leave. Love him or hate him, he was a respected rugby man, and as has been said, the man that turned not only SA rugby pro, but world rugby too. RIP Doc Luyt.
RIP Oom Louis
groot een wat weg is,rip.dok
He was a true rugby man!
RIP
No one could pee the NZ off like Luyt. From handing Bevan a golden watch to telling them they were not official world champions because SA didn’t play in it.
Haha gotta love it
RIP Mr Luyt
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