Willie du Plessis (rugby union, born 1955)

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Willie du Plessis
Birth nameWillem du Plessis
Date of birth (1955-09-04) 4 September 1955 (age 68)
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)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1980–1982 South Africa 14 (12 [3t])

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

Early life[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

No. Opposition Result (SA 1st) Position Tries Date Venue
1. South American Jaguars 24–9 Centre 26 April 1980 Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
2. South American Jaguars 18–9 Centre 3 May 1980 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
3.  British Lions 26–22 Centre 1 31 May 1980 Newlands, Cape Town
4. British & Irish Lions British Lions 26–19 Centre 14 June 1980 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
5. British & Irish Lions British Lions 12–10 Centre 28 June 1980 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
6. British & Irish Lions British Lions 13–17 Centre 1 12 July 1980 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
7. South American Jaguars 22–13 Centre 18 October 1980 Wanderers Club, Montevideo
8. South American Jaguars 30–16 Centre 25 October 1980 Prince of Wales Country Club, Santiago
9.  France 37–15 Centre 8 November 1980 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
10.  New Zealand 9–14 Centre 15 August 1981 Lancaster Park, Christchurch
11. New Zealand New Zealand 24–12 Centre 29 August 1981 Athletic Park, Wellington
12. New Zealand New Zealand 22–25 Centre 12 September 1981 Eden Park, Auckland
13. South American Jaguars 50–18 Centre 1 27 March 1982 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
14. South American Jaguars 12–21 Centre 3 April 1982 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Accolades[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ ESPNScrum.com: Willie du Plessis
  2. ^ a b 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.
  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 24 May 2020.
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