 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Willem Nicolaas Frederik du Plessis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1990-06-05)5 June 1990 (age 35) Pretoria, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (14 st 9 lb; 205 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Pretoria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Willem Nicolaas Frederik du Plessis (born 5 June 1990) is a South African-born Dutch internationalrugby union player, currently playing in France with theFrenchPro D2 sideMont-de-Marsan.[1] His regular position is fly-half.[2][3]
Du Plessis played for theBlue Bulls at the 2008 Under-18 Academy Week competition before moving toDurban to join theSharks. He played for theSharks U19 team in the 2009 Under-19 Provincial Championship and for theSharks U21 team in the2010 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring 96 points in twelve matches.[4] He was named in the Sharks' squad for the2011 Vodacom Cup competition, but failed to make an appearance. He made two more appearances for the Sharks in the2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship, before returning to theBlue Bulls U21 team for the latter part of the competition, making a further four appearances.
Du Plessis was included in theBlue Bulls squad for the2012 Vodacom Cup competition[5] and made his first class debut against theFalcons, coming on as a half-time substitute and scoring a try within five minutes of his debut, as well as two conversions.[6] He also appeared as a substitute in two of their remaining fixtures in the competition. He was once again included in their squad for the2013 Vodacom Cup competition[7] and made his first start for the Blue Bulls, once again against theFalcons,[8] this time scoring seven conversions.
Du Plessis's next game in the competition came against theLimpopo Blue Bulls, with theBlue Bulls running out 110–0 victors.[9] Du Plessis weighed in with two tries and fifteen conversions (missing just one attempt), scoring 40 points in one match, aVodacom Cup record.[10]
Du Plessis joined theFree State Cheetahs on a short-term deal for the2013 Currie Cup Premier Division.[11]
Du Plessis signed a two-year deal with theGolden Lions, joining them in November 2013.[11]
However, Du Plessis's time inJohannesburg was short-lived and he returned to Bloemfontein for the2015 Super Rugby season,[12] signing a contract until the end of 2016.
In August 2015, Du Plessis joined FrenchTop 14 sideToulon as a medical joker on a three-month loan deal.[13]
Du Plessis joinedBayonne in November 2015 as a medical joker,[14] before signing a full-time contract a month later, signing a three-year deal starting in the 2016–17 season.[15]
Du Plessis also playedVarsity Cup rugby forUP Tuks, making twelve appearances in2012 and2013.