In a fantastic gesture, WP Rugby will be raising funds for Tinus Linee, diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, at the Stormers’ next home game against the Reds on May 25.
Tank Lanning
Former WP centre Tinus Linee was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in April and having been in contact with him throughout, the WPRU have decided to use the Reds match at Newlands on the 25th as a vehicle to collect funds to assist Linee with his treatment and mounting medical bills.
Linee, 43, played 112 matches at centre for Western Province between 1992 and 2001 and will be remembered as a loyal WP player with a no-nonsense approach to defence as displayed by his bone-crunching tackles.
He made his Springbok debut in 1993 – at the age of 23 – and went on to play nine tour matches for his country in Australia, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
WPRFU President Thelo Wakefield said: “Tinus is a true son of Western Province rugby and we will stand by him in his hour of need.
“But it’s not just about Tinus and helping him now – it’s about his wife and the future too. We are hoping to raise as much as possible on the day, but we also have a few other events planned in his honour .
“We would like to call upon all fans to show their support for Tinus by coming to the game on the 25th and donating some money. We look forward to a great day’s rugby as well as a great opportunity to help one of WP’s most loyal sons.”
Tinus will be present at the match, and he will make an appearance on the field at half-time.
More details of the actual happenings at Newlands on May 25 will be made available in the next two weeks, but there will be easy to spot collection points throughout the ground.
In another top gesture, WPRU have invited all his ex-teammates (including this scribe) to attend the match in support of our ex team mate. They have sorted out a massive block-booking for all of us to sit together, and made sure that a photo will be taken of the group, including Tinus. We might just have beer together afterwards too!
Below please find a list of all 119 players who played with Tinus over the course of his 112 matches. Those players keen to join us on the 25th, please contact Howard Kahn on hkahn@wprugby.co.za.
For now, however, if you wish to make a financial contribution towards Tinus Linee before May 25, you can make a deposit to the WP Rugby President’s Trust, using ‘Tinus Linee’ as the reference.
The bank details are as follows:
Account name: The Western Province Rugby Union President’s Trust
A/C no.: 62376831080
Clearing code: 200-109
Branch: Claremont
The WP players who played with Tinus Linee:
| Surname | Name |
| Abbott | Stuart |
| Adlam | Jopie |
| Aitken | Andrew |
| Andrews | Eddie |
| Andrews | Keith |
| April | C |
| Arendse | Trevor |
| Arnold | P |
| Badenhorst | Adri |
| Barlow | Tom |
| Barnard | Julian |
| Barnard | Johan |
| Barrett | Brett |
| Barry | De Wet |
| Bayly | Mike |
| Bekker | Brandon |
| Berridge | Simon |
| Blom | Louis |
| Bojé | Louis |
| Boome | Selborne |
| Botha | Rhys |
| Brink | Rob |
| Britton | Richard |
| Burger | SW |
| Burger | Kobus |
| Carstens | Wilhelm |
| Chait | Anton |
| Cilliers | Vlokkie |
| Cockrell | William |
| Coetzee | J |
| Cronje | Charl |
| Cupido | Wilfred |
| Davids | Quinton |
| Daniels | Dean |
| Daniels | Quinton |
| Dixon | Peter |
| De Kock | Neil |
| Du Toit | Jané |
| Ehrentraut | Michael |
| Ferreira | Freddie |
| Ferreira | Pietie |
| Fleck | Robbie |
| Fuls | Heinrich |
| Geduld | Solly |
| Gelderbloom | Glen |
| Gerber | Danie |
| Gerber | Hendrick |
| Gey van Pittius | Werner |
| Grant | Gary |
| Greeff | Werner |
| Halkett | Julian |
| Hancke | Drikus |
| Hanekom | Dirk |
| Hatley | Neil |
| Hendriksz | Justin |
| Holwill | Charl |
| Hugo | Neil |
| Human | A |
| Hurter | Marius |
| Jordaan | N |
| Kapp | Johan |
| Karele | Harold |
| Kempson | Rob |
| Kirsten | Mikey |
| Kirsten | Andy |
| Knoetze | Faffa |
| Koen | Louis |
| Krige | Corne |
| Langenberg | F |
| Lanning | Andrew |
| Lawless | Gavin |
| Ligthart | B |
| Loubser | Pieter |
| Louw | Hottie |
| Lubbe | Edrich |
| Mackay | Wayne |
| Marais | Charl |
| Marais | Pierre |
| Maree | Jan |
| Marinos | Andy |
| Markow | T |
| Montgomery | Percy |
| Moses | A |
| Mostert | Marius |
| Muller | J |
| Manuel | Y |
| Norton | Chris |
| October | Irvin |
| O’Duinneagain | Dion |
| Paarwater | Jerome |
| Pagel | Garry |
| Paterson | Andrew |
| Paulse | Breyton |
| Paulse | R |
| Petersen | Patrick |
| Rademeyer | Retief |
| Raubenheimer | Stanley |
| Rautenbach | Faan |
| Rheeder | Nicky |
| Rossouw | Pieter |
| Rossouw | Chris |
| Roux | R |
| Roux | Chean |
| Santon | Dale |
| Scholtz | Christiaan |
| Scholtz | G |
| Schutte | T |
| Sherrell | Lance |
| Skinstad | Bob |
| Smal | Gert |
| Smit | FC |
| Stoltz | Thys |
| Stewart | Christian |
| Stransky | Joel |
| Strauss | Tiaan |
| Swart | Justin |
| Theron | C |
| Theron | Gus |
| Trytsman | Johnny |
Wow Tank, I fondly remember Tinus’ not-so-friendly reminders to opponents that the bus was full. So sad to hear the MND has a hold on him .I wish him the very best.
Me too. Jeez, the oke could tackle. Sad news, but looking forward to catching up with him and a few other boytjies on the 25th …
SHame about the illness.
One of my first practices for Province defense in 1992, I was lined up and taken down, right down to china town, by Thinus. He then proceeeded to help me up and said,”Welkom hier by ons.” Him and Chester, always smiling at training.
Good times!
So true about those 2 always smiling! Priviledged to have toured NZ and Aus with those 2 jokers in ’93 or ’94 …