VIDEO: Samoa honour Joost with moving hymn
The Samoan rugby team sang a moving tribute to former Springbok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen.
Team members of the Samoan rugby team gathered in Brighton to sing the traditional hymn ‘Fa’afetai i le atua’ to former Springbok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen.
The video on the Manu Samoa Facebook page has racked up 287,921 views, 7,607 likes and 3,749 shares to date.
The caption on the video reads: “Totally humbling experience to meet Springboks legend Joost Van Der Westhuizen in Brighton today. This man does not let Motor Neuron Disease define him or stop him living life to the fullest. This hymn seemed right for the occasion.”
The chorus is translated to English as “Sing hallelujah, thank you, hallelujah”.
The second verse includes the sentence, “Thank you to your son Jesus, who came down from above. The one who is our refuge.”
The former Blue Bulls player is an 89-cap veteran of South African rugby and a member of the 1995 Rugby World Cup-winning team. He was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease in 2011 and was given two to five years to live.
