• Switch Edition
ESPN SCRUM / Sin Bin / News
Follow@ESPNSCRUM
Sin Bin
Boks, Wallabies accept ice bucket challange
ESPN Staff
August 22, 2014

Springboks legend Joost van der Westhuizen has taken the ice bucket challenge to raise awareness of motor neuron disease.

Van der Westhuizen promptly challenged the Springboks, the All Blacks and the Wallabies to take an ice bucket.

The Wallabies were quick to respond, half-back Nic White taking on the challenge with a slight twist. Instead of having the ice poured over his head, White was held upside down by Wallabies locks Sam Carter and Rob Simmons before being dumped into the ice water for several seconds.

White nominated the Australian cricket team, Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to take on the challenge.

The Springboks also responded in Salta, with coach Heyneke Meyer taking on the challenge surrounded by the playing squad. The Springboks donated R50,000 to van der Westhuizen's J9 Foundation and nominated all rugby union sides in South Africa to take on the challenge.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said "every day the boys are in the ice after training" and "we're always up for a challenge".

Van der Westhuizen, 43, joined celebrities and sporting icons such as LeBron James, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Cristiano Ronaldo and the Manchester United team to have accepted the icy challenge.

He has been living with MND since 2011, and has established the J9 Foundation to support South Africans with the same illness.

Donations from the ALS ice bucket challenge have now reached over US$53 million, and continue to grow. To show your support visit: http://www.alsa.org/

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd