Legendary Springbok rugby player James Small has passed away.

James Small is a former South African rugby union footballer who played on the wing for the Springboks.

Small’s mother, Vaughn Small, confirmed to Netwerk24 that one of the heroes of the 1995 Rugby World Cup victory died on Wednesday around noon of a suspected heart attack.

“We suspect it was a heart attack but it hasn’t been confirmed yet,” his sorrowfully said.

Small ,50, who had been visiting Cape Town in South Africa, lived with his daughter Ruby in Johannesburg.

Ruby’s mother who was Small’s ex-wife is the well-known actress and model Christina Storm.

His international debut was against the All Blacks in 1992 and he made his final appearance against Scotland in 1997.