Joost van der Westhuizen faces the biggest battle of his life © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Joost van der Westhuizen

Teams: South Africa

Former Springbok skipper Joost van der Westhuizen has been given between two and five years to live following confirmation he is suffering from motor neuron disease.

The South African legend's infliction is Lou Gehrig's disease, which tragically gives him only an 80% chance of living between the two-to-five year prognosis. Doctors have suspected that the 89-cap Springbok was suffering from motor neuron disease since May.

The former scrum-half complained of slurred speech and decreasing muscle power throughout his body and said at the time, "My neurosystem is just giving up. The doctors don't know what causes it. It's not a virus, it's not stress, it's not social life, they just don't know what it is."

On Thursday, The Beeld newspaper reported that van der Westhuizen had confirmation of his illness following a visit to Erik Pioro, a neuromuscular specialist in Cleveland, Ohio. Van der Westhuizen's agent later released a statement.

"He is obviously very shocked and upset to have heard the news," Bridget Van Oerle said. "On the surface of it, it is a bleak outlook and he is now spending some time at home with his children. Joost is devastated and has asked to be left alone so he can collect his thoughts."

Since the diagnosis, Van der Westhuizen has received support from the world of rugby. John Smit - the current Springboks captain - said: "It's tragic for a guy of his stature. "I've been in touch with Joost quite a bit and it's sad to think about what he was and what he's going to be.

"I spoke to him some weeks ago and you can see the deterioration already. It's traumatic for an individual like that, a young father. We'll do whatever we can when we get back to support him."