Joost van der Westhuizen played his last Test against the All Blacks in 2003 © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Joost van der Westhuizen

Teams: South Africa

Former South Africa captain Joost van der Westhuizen has been diagnosed with a form of motor neurone disease, his publicist has confirmed.

The 40-year-old made his name as one of the world's best scrum-halves during an 89-Test career, in which he secured a Rugby World Cup winners' medal in 1995.

He is also the Springboks' joint-record try scorer alongside Bryan Habana, with 38, and captained his country at the 1999 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals, before playing his final Test in the quarter-final loss to New Zealand at the 2003 tournament.

The diagnosis was made after Van der Westhuizen complained to his doctor of a pain in his arm, and he was sent for a series of tests. He has since seen two neurologists in order for treatment to begin.

A statement from his publicist Bridget van Oerle on Supersport.com read: "Sports personality Joost van der Westhuizen has been diagnosed with a serious muscle-related neural disease.

"Van der Westhuizen's doctor, Dr. Kelbrick, who is also a close family friend, noticed that Joost was having problems with his right arm and ran a series of tests.

"Van der Westhuizen also consulted two neurologists and has began immediate treatment. The symptoms are serious and vary from person to person. The press is requested to respect his privacy at this time and note that neither he nor his family will be available for interviews."

South African Rugby Union (SARU) president Oregan Hoskins offered the support of the rugby community to one of the country's greats.

"We only have the media reports to go on at this moment, but the news about Joost's health is distressing in the extreme," he said. "The thoughts and prayers of SARU, the Springboks and the South African rugby community are with Joost and those nearest and dearest to him at this challenging time.

"He was an outstanding Springbok and is a legend of our game - he will always have a place of honour in the history of Springbok rugby. He gave his all on the field for the teams he represented and - at his prime - was the best scrum-half in world rugby. His current health problems are the cruellest twist of fate for one who was so athletic in his prime."

Van der Westhuizen has endured some difficult times during the last few years. In 2009 he was admitted to hospital after suffering a suspected heart attack after watching a Test between South Africa and the British & Irish Lions, while his marriage came to an end in 2010.

His former South Africa team-mate Andre Venter has also suffered with a form of motor neurone disease, which has recently seen him confined to a wheelchair, while former London Irish wing Jarrod Cunningham died from the disease aged 38 in 2007.