Moerat, the uncle of current Springbok Salman Moerat, was a powerful eighthman who won six caps for the South African Rugby Football Federation in a much-celebrated  career as one of the hardman of South African rugby.

He and his brother, Marwaan, toured England with the Federation team in 1971 – the Proteas – but he declined to play against the same opponents a year later in protest against South Africa’s apartheid regime.

“He was renowned as one of the hardest of hard men in tough Western Cape rugby and a feared ball carrier,” said Mr Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union.

“He and his brother and the rest of family dominated the SA Rugby Cup in the late 60s and early 1970s and it is an eternal shame that he never had the chance to test himself against all-comers.

“He was a fixture as a player on the Western Cape scene for many years and his legend preceded him as one of the greats.”

His home club was Vineyards RFC in Paarl, where he started and ended his career either side of a spell with the SARU-affiliated Schotschekloof RFC in Cape Town from which he won Boland honours although, by how own admission, he past his peak to win selection for the SARU national team.

“Another legend from an increasingly distant era has passed, but we should forever honour his name for his contribution to his community and the game of rugby in South Africa’s darkest hours,” said Mr Alexander.