Former Springbok scumhalf Coenraad Frederik "Popeye" Strydom died on Saturday afternoon at the age of 69.
Strydom was educated at Grey College in Bloemfontein and played provincial rugby for both Free State and Eastern Province. In 1955 he played in three of the four Test matches in the drawn series against the touring British Lions.
The following year he was a member of the team that toured New Zealand and Australia and in 1958 played in one home Test against France.
Strydom was also a keen baseball player and represented both the then Orange Free State and Eastern Province.
On Monday evening Strydom suffered a stroke and later slipped into a coma. He passed away at 3.30pm on Saturday at the Olivedale Clinic in Randburg.
He is survived by his wife June, son Anton and daughter-in-law Desiree. - Sapa