The one-year-old son of South Africa World Cup winner Jannie du Plessis has drowned in a swimming pool.
The Springboks prop, 39, was celebrating his birthday on Tuesday when the incident happened.
It was reported on social media by another Springbok player, Toks van der Linde, who shared a picture of Du Plessis holding his late son while stood alongside his wife, Ronel.
He said: "Please pray for Jannie du Plessis and his family his son of 1 year old drown last night my hart (sic) is broken broken broken".
Former South Africa international Rudolf Straeuli - now chief executive of Du Plessis' current club Lions - confirmed the news to Sport24 : "We, as a Lions family, aren't doing well. I can confirm that this tragedy took place. We are all devastated."
Straeuli later requested space for the Du Plessis family to mourn, adding: "As I'm sure everyone can understand, Jannie and his family now need to be left alone to process this tragedy.
"We offer our full support to him and kindly request everyone to keep them in their thoughts and prayers."
The tighthead prop is a qualified medical doctor who played 70 Tests for the Springboks between 2007 and 2015 and was a member of the 2007 World Cup-winning squad, the Mirror reports.
He is the older brother of another Springbok, hooker Bismarck du Plessis.
One of his former clubs, the Sharks, said: "The Sharks extend our deepest condolences to @JannieDup3, [his wife] Ronel and the entire Du Plessis family on the tragic loss of his young son. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time."
