Wife of former Bok coach Peter de Villiers drowns

The wife of former Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers has reportedly drowned in a pool in Gqeberha on Monday.

She was reportedly found by a family member in a house in Fairview around midday and declared dead on the scene by emergency workers.

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said no foul play was suspected.

“The deceased is from Paarl but was visiting family in Gqeberha. She was found in the pool by a family member.

“The circumstances surrounding the drowning is under investigation,” Janse van Rensburg added.

The report further states De Villiers was contacted, but said he was unable to talk about what had happened.

Peter de Villiers coached the Springboks from 2008 to 2011, with a controversial defeat to Australia in the World Cup quarter-final coming at the end of his tenure.

Recently, after a brief spell coaching with Eastern Province Rugby, it emerged last year that he was looking to take up a career in politics.

Tragically, the De Villiers’ daughter Odille lost her battle with cancer towards the end of 2019.

According to You magazine, she had eight chemotherapy courses over a period of seven months, followed by 20 radiation sessions, but sadly passed away at the age of just 28.

“It was God’s will,’ De Villiers told You magazine. “It was in His hands I had her for 28 joyous years.

“I choose to live in those 28 years, rather than in the years that might’ve been. She’d fought to the bitter end. I’d never seen anyone fight like that.”