| Birth name | Carel Johan du Plessis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 June 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Paarl Boys High | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Stellenbosch University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Jean-Luc du Plessis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Carel Johan du Plessis (born 24 June 1960) [1] is a former South African rugby union coach and player.
Du Plessis played for Western Province and the Springboks, his skills earning him the nickname the Prince of Wings. [2] Capped 12 times, he scored 4 tries for the Springboks, but his international career was curtailed by the sports boycott against apartheid South Africa. [3]
| No. | Opposition | Result (SA 1st) | Position | Tries | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | South American Jaguars | 50–18 | Wing | 1 | 27 March 1982 | Loftus Versveld, Pretoria |
| 2. | South American Jaguars | 12–21 | Wing | 3 April 1982 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | |
| 3. | England | 33–15 | Wing | 1 | 2 June 1984 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth |
| 4. | England | 35–9 | Wing | 9 June 1984 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | |
| 5. | South American Jaguars | 32–15 | Wing | 20 October 1984 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | |
| 6. | South American Jaguars | 21–13 | Wing | 1 | 27 October 1984 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 7. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 21–15 | Wing | 1 | 10 May 1986 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 8. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 18–19 | Wing | 17 May 1986 | Kings Park, Durban | |
| 9. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 33–18 | Wing | 24 May 1986 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | |
| 10. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 24–10 | Wing | 31 May 1986 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | |
| 11. | World XV | 20–19 | Wing | 26 Aug 1989 | Newlands, Cape Town | |
| 12. | World XV | 22–16 | Wing | 2 Sep 1989 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
In late February 1997, du Plessis was appointed coach of the Springboks, succeeding Andre Markgraaff, despite a lack of coaching experience. [4] [5] He led the team to defeat in both the British and Irish Lions' 1997 tour and the 1997 Tri-Nations, before being sacked and replaced by Nick Mallett, his last game as coach being a 61–22 win over Australia. [6] He was subsequently an assistant coach for Western Province and the Stormers, with Gert Smal. [2]
Du Plessis is the brother of Michael du Plessis and Willie du Plessis, both former Springboks, father of Jean-Luc du Plessis, who plays for the Stormers, and uncle of Daniël du Plessis, a former South Africa U20 player. [2]
He has undergone three major surgeries after a brain tumour was discovered in January 2019. [2] [7]
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Marthinus "Tinus" Linee was a South African rugby player. Linee played predominantly at centre. He played all his provincial rugby for Western Province. He represented Western Province and the Stormers in Super Rugby. He played nine tour games for the Springboks between 1993 and 1994, but never played in a test for South Africa.
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