Staff Reporter
THE formidable Gerhard Mans (60), captain of the first Namibian national rugby team after independence and record-holding try-scorer, was killed in an accident on the Western Bypass this morning when a car struck him while he was cycling with his son, Gerhard Junior.
The driver of a white BMW without number plates was reportedly arrested at the scene of the accident.
In 1987 Mans was appointed captain of South West Africa and under his leadership during 1987, South West Africa won the B division of the Currie Cup and gained promotion to the A division for the 1988 season.
Mans was selected as captain for the first Namibian national side after independence. Namibia played its first test match on 24 March 1990 in Windhoek against Zimbabwe and Mans scored one of his team’s six tries in a 33–18 victory. In his second test, against Portugal, he scored a record six tries.
Mans continued to play 27 test matches and scored 26 tries for Namibia and also captained the team 26 times.
He was one of the five nominees for 1988 SA Rugby Player of the Year award.
Mans early in his career formed a close bond with President Hage Geingob who was then Prime Minister and patron of the Namibian Rugby Union.
