Tinus Linee passed away at the age of 45 on Monday morning after losing his battle with motor neuron disease.

Linee was diagnosed with MND in April last year and his deteriorating health resulted in him having financial difficulties. He auctioned off his Springbok and Western Province blazers in an attempt to cover his medical costs, while the WPRFU also helped him to raise funds.

The former centre played nine tour matches for the Springboks between 1993 and 1994 and 112 matches for Western Province between 1992 and 2001. He was a member of the 1997, 2000 and 2001 Currie Cup-winning Western Province teams.

Following a successful playing career, he started coaching in 2008 where he fulfilled the role of assistant coach to the Western Province Vodacom Cup team. Four years later he joined former Springbok wing Chester Williams as an assistant coach at RCM Universitatea Timişoara in Romania, where they guided the team to victory in the SuperLiga CEC Bank competition.

The news of Linee's death was broken by fellow MND sufferer Joost van der Westhuizen, who tweeted: 'Sad day for Rugby in SA. Just received news of the passing of a rugby legend and MND Warrior Tinus Linee RIP my friend.'

The former Springbok scrumhalf was diagnosed with MND in May 2011.

Linee is survived by wife Diana and three children, Jean, Dieuwke-Jean and Breyton.