Joost Van Der Westhuizen’s Son Jordan Posts Touching Throwback of Springboks Legend at Ellis Park

Joost Van Der Westhuizen’s Son Jordan Posts Touching Throwback of Springboks Legend at Ellis Park

  • Jordan van der Westhuizen shared a moving tribute to his late father on TikTok after attending the Springboks vs All Blacks match at Ellis Park
  • The 22-year-old included a throwback photo from the same venue in 2014, when Joost walked onto the pitch beside his children despite battling motor neurone disease
  • Jordan, now a model and aspiring professional footballer, bears a striking resemblance to his father, who is an iconic figure in South Africa's rugby scene

Jordan van der Westhuizen, son of the late Springbok legend Joost van der Westhuizen, paid a heartfelt tribute to his father on TikTok following the Springboks and All Blacks clash at Ellis Park over the weekend.

Springboks, South Africa, Joost van der Westhuizen
Late Springboks legend Joost van der Westhuizen in action. Image: Ross Land
Source: Getty Images

The 22-year-old posted a collage of moments from his time at the stadium, wearing a Springbok-themed shirt as he watched from the stands. Tucked within the collection was a throwback image that carried particular weight: a photograph of Jordan and his sister, Kylie, standing alongside their famous father on the Ellis Park pitch — taken in 2014.

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A 2014 moment that still resonates

That earlier occasion was already deeply emotional. Joost, who was publicly battling motor neurone disease at the time, used a ReWalk Robotic suit — a device engineered to assist people with lower-limb paralysis — to walk onto the field beside his children. The Springboks faced the All Blacks that day too, winning the match 27-25, and the sight of Joost on the pitch moved both supporters and players alike.

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By including that image alongside his weekend visit to Ellis Park, Jordan quietly drew a line between past and present, honouring the man who once stood on that same turf against South Africa's most respected rugby rivals.

Jordan forging his own path

Joost van der Westhuizen passed away in February 2017 after a prolonged and painful struggle with motor neurone disease, leaving behind his wife, Amoré Vittone, and their two children. Jordan was just 13 years old at the time.

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Now nine years on, the younger van der Westhuizen has grown into a young man with a striking resemblance to his father, sharing the same brown hair and hazel eyes that made Joost one of South Africa's most recognisable sporting figures. Jordan has since built a modelling career and is working towards becoming a professional footballer.

His TikTok tribute served as a quiet but powerful reminder of the bond between father and son, and of the enduring legacy Joost left behind in South African rugby.

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Authors:
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Raphael Abiola (Sports editor) Raphael Abiola is a Nigerian Sports Journalist with over seven years of experience. He obtained a B.Tech degree in Computer Science from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, in 2015. Raphael previously worked as a football editor at Stakegains (2016-2018) and a content editor with Opera News Nigeria (2018-2023). Raphael then worked as an Editor for the Local Desk at Sports Brief (2023-2024). Reach him via email at raphael.abiola@briefly.co.za.