Free State Rugby has lost another great servant of the game after the former prop Dougie Heymans lost his battle with Covid-19 on Monday.

After spending quite some time in the ICU, Heymans became the second legendary Free State hardman to pass on following Jannie Els a few days ago.

As a player, Heymans played in 154 games for the Free State and more recently, he was still active as an administrator at Shimlas rugby.

"Dit is baie hartseer om weereens te verneem van ‘n oud-Vrystaat rugbyspeler wat aan die Covid-19 pandemie ontkom het.  Dougie Heymans was ‘n buitengewone goeie rugby speler en veral ‘n in moeilike posisie van vaskop het hy menigte opponent les laat opsê. Hy was eintlik ongelukkig om nie vir die Springbokke op te draf nie want hy was in alle opsigte ‘n anker vir Vrystaat Rugby in baie wedstryde gewees." het Harold Verster, Besturende Direkteur van die Vrystaat Cheetahs gese.  

"Ons eer sy nagedagtenis en dra ons innige simpatie aan familie, vriende en oud-spelers oor."

Marius van Rensburg, the President of Shimlas Rugby, told OFM Sport that they honour the legacy of the man who was a great servant of the game.

“We honour the legacy of Dougie Heymans.

“A man with unbelievable work ethics and unconditional love for the Shimlas and rugby at the University of the Free State in general.

“Our hearts go out to Ilse, the children, and all his friends and colleagues.”

In a recent interview, the double World Cup-winning Springbok, Os du Randt, described Heymans as the hardest player he had the privilege of scrumming against in the domestic game.