Former Springbok Bevin Fortuin dies at 46

He reportedly suffered a heart attack before a Rhinos rugby practice.

The team confirmed the tragic news in a heartfelt post on their official Facebook page, expressing their sorrow at the loss of their coach and leader.

Fortuin’s rugby journey began with the SWD Eagles, where he rose through the youth ranks in 1998 before making his senior debut two years later. After six seasons with the Eagles, he joined the Cheetahs in 2005, going on to make 22 appearances for the Free State side between 2006 and 2008, including Super Rugby matches.

In 2009, he returned to the SWD Eagles for two seasons in the Currie Cup First Division.

Fortuin earned his Springbok debut in 2006 in a Test match against Ireland and represented South Africa again during the 2007 Tri-Nations.

Transitioning into coaching, Fortuin became a player-coach for Blanco and led the club to the 2012 National Club Championships. He later rejoined the SWD Eagles as part of their coaching setup and was appointed head coach after the 2013 Vodacom Cup, holding the role until the end of 2015. He then moved to Pretoria to be part of the Bulls’ coaching structures.

Tributes and condolences are pouring in as the rugby community mourns the loss of a dedicated player, coach, and mentor whose passion for the game left a lasting impact.