SA Rugby President Mark Alexander has paid tribute to Osman 'Vleis' Daniels, who passed away on Sunday following a battle with illness. Daniels was a loosehead prop for the erstwhile South African Rugby Union in the early 1980s, playing alongside Peter Jooste, Randy Marinus and Julian Smith, and was regarded as one of the finest looseheads of his generation.
"It is with deep sorrow that the South African Rugby Union mourns the passing of Osman 'Vleis' Daniels, a formidable loosehead prop who graced our game in the early 1980s," Alexander said. "Daniels was more than a player; he was a symbol of resilience and excellence during a time when rugby in our country was overshadowed by an unjust political dispensation. Despite the inequities of that era, he carried himself with dignity and played the game with courage, skill and an unwavering love for rugby."
Alexander added that Daniels' contribution to the sport serves as a reminder of those who persevered when the game did not play fair, and expressed condolences to his family, friends and the broader rugby community.