Willie du Plessis (rugby union, born 1955)

Willem du Plessis (born 4 September 1955)[1] is a former South African rugby union player.

Willie du Plessis
Birth nameWillem du Plessis
Date of birth (1955-09-04) 4 September 1955
Place of birthSomerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight83 kg (183 lb)
SchoolGill College, Somerset East
UniversityStellenbosch University
Notable relative(s)Michael du Plessis (brother), Carel du Plessis (brother), Jacques du Plessis (brother)
ChildrenLizaan du Plessis
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Maties ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1977–1982 Western Province 67 (160)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1980–1982 South Africa 14 (12 [3t])

Early life

Du Plessis was born in Somerset East in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. His father, also named Willie, played provincial rugby for Eastern Province and his maternal grandfather, Michael Josias du Plessis played for Western Province in 1923 and 1924. Du Plessis was educated at Gill College in Somerset East and in 1973, represented North Eastern Cape at the annual Craven Week tournament. He also represented Eastern Province at the South African junior athletics championships.[2]

Playing career

In 1975, du Plessis enrolled at Stellenbosch University for a degree in Physical Education and in 1977 made his debut for Western Province. Between 1977 and 1982, he played 67 matches for Western Province and was a member of the Western Province team that won the Currie Cup in 1982. Two of his brothers, Michael and Carel, were also in the 1982 Currie Cup winning team.[3]

Du Plessis made his test debut for the Springboks against the visiting South American Jaguars team on 26 April 1980 and in so doing became the 500th Springbok rugby player. He was capped 14 times and scored 3 test tries for the Springboks.[4] Du Plessis also played in six tour matches, scoring four tries for the Springboks.[5] He retired at the end of the 1982 season, at the age of 26, to take up farming.[2]

Test history
No.OppositionResult (SA 1st)PositionTriesDateVenue
1. South American Jaguars24–9Centre26 April 1980Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
2. South American Jaguars18–9Centre3 May 1980Kings Park Stadium, Durban
3. British Lions26–22Centre131 May 1980Newlands, Cape Town
4. British Lions26–19Centre14 June 1980Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
5. British Lions12–10Centre28 June 1980Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
6. British Lions13–17Centre112 July 1980Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
7. South American Jaguars22–13Centre18 October 1980Wanderers Club, Montevideo
8. South American Jaguars30–16Centre25 October 1980Prince of Wales Country Club, Santiago
9. France37–15Centre8 November 1980Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
10. New Zealand9–14Centre15 August 1981Lancaster Park, Christchurch
11. New Zealand24–12Centre29 August 1981Athletic Park, Wellington
12. New Zealand22–25Centre12 September 1981Eden Park, Auckland
13. South American Jaguars50–18Centre127 March 1982Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
14. South American Jaguars12–21Centre3 April 1982Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Accolades

In 1979, du Plessis was named one of the five South African Young Players of the Year, along with Darius Botha, Doug Jeffrey, Andre Markgraaff and Gawie Visagie.[6]

Personal

Du Plessis is the brother of Michael du Plessis and Carel du Plessis, both former Springboks and the father of Lizaan du Plessis, a former professional tennis player. His fourth brother, Jacques du Plessis played provincial rugby for Western Province and Eastern Province. During the latter part of the 2000s, Du Plessis emigrated to Australia and resides in Sydney.[7]

See also

References
  1. ESPNScrum.com: Willie du Plessis
  2. van der Merwe, Floris (2007). Matieland is Rugbyland 1980-2006. Stellenbosch: Sun Press. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-920109-79-0.
  3. Parker, A. C. (1983). W.P. Rugby : centenary, 1883-1983. Western Province Rugby Football Union (South Africa) (1st ed.). Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa: WPRFU. pp. 284–301. ISBN 0-620-06555-9. OCLC 54188953.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. Jooste, Graham K. (1995). South African rugby test players 1949-1995. Johannesburg: Penguin. pp. 89–114. ISBN 0140250174. OCLC 36916860.
  5. Colquhoun, Andy (1999). The South African Rugby Annual 1999. Cape Town: MWP Media Sport. p. 144. ISBN 0958423148.
  6. Colquhoun, Andy (1999). The South African Rugby Annual 1999. Cape Town: MWP Media Sport. p. 26. ISBN 0958423148.
  7. "Sydney University: Willie Doep". Green and Gold Rugby. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
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