Felix du Plessis

Last updated

Felix du Plessis
Birth nameFelix du Plessis
Date of birth24 November 1919
Place of birth Steynsburg, South Africa
Date of death1 May 1978(1978-05-01) (aged 58)
Place of deathStilfontein
Children Morne du Plessis
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Wanderers, Johannesburg ()
– Old Greys, Bloemfontein ()
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Northern Transvaal ()
- Transvaal ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1949 South Africa 3

Felix du Plessis (24 November 1919 – 1 May 1978) was a South African rugby union footballer and captain of the South Africa (Springbok) team that in 1949 beat the All Blacks thrice in succession, a feat that was not repeated by a South African side until 2009. [1] Du Plessis's son, Morné, also captained the Springboks, the only father-son duo to have done so. [2]

Contents

Early life and career

Du Plessis was born on 24 November 1919 in Steynsburg, in the Eastern Cape. He was the nephew of Nic du Plessis, a Springbok who toured to New Zealand in 1921 and gained 5 caps over a three-year career. [3] [4]

As a 19-year-old Felix Du Plessis was selected for the first Northern Transvaal team ever, when that union was formed in 1938. His teammate and captain was Danie Craven. [3] He enlisted voluntarily during World War II. [5]

International career

Felix made his debut on 16 July 1949 for South Africa as a lock in the first test match at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town against the touring All Blacks, led by Fred Allen. He was the first ever Wanderers player to become Springbok captain. [3] [6] Supported by vice-captain Cecil Moss, Du Plessis' team – which included Springbok greats Tjol Lategan, Hannes Brewis, Okey Geffin, and Hennie Muller – swept the series 3 – 0. [7] Six weeks after the last test, Morné was born. [8]

Despite his three successive test victories as captain, Du Plessis was left out of the team that faced the All Blacks in the 4th test at Port Elizabeth. He was replaced by Basil Kenyon, possibly because the player-coach's Border team had emerged unbeaten from two encounters with the New Zealanders, with a 9–0 win and a 6–6 draw. [9] [10] [11] Unlike Du Plessis, Kenyon would only receive this one cap. [12]

International caps

No.OppositionResult (SA 1st)PositionTriesDateVenue
1.Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 15–11Lock16 July 1949Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
2. Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand12–6Lock13 August 1949 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
3. Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand9–3Lock3 September 1949 Kingsmead, Durban

Personal life

Du Plessis married Pat Smethurst, who in 1954 captained the South African women's hockey team. Their son Morné is the only Springbok captain born to parents who both captained national sports sides. [2] [13] [14] The Du Plessis couple supported the more liberal opposition United Party instead of the National Party, which had come to power in 1948 and would enforce apartheid for the next 42 years. [5]

Felix worked as a representative for South African Breweries, then relocated to Vereeniging to manage Iscor's sport and recreation department. He moved to Stilfontein, where he opened a liquor store, one of the first shops in town. Morné recalls his father as a gentle and retiring person, who only started watching his son play rugby once he was at Stellenbosch. Du Plessis died at Stilfontein in 1978 at the age of 58, having played only in the three tests against New Zealand. [15] [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Africa national rugby union team</span> National sports team

The South Africa national rugby union team, commonly known as the Springboks, is the country's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union. The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts, and their emblem is the Springbok, a native antelope and the national animal of South Africa. The team has represented South African Rugby Union in international rugby union since 30 July 1891, when they played their first test match against a British Isles touring team. Currently, the Springboks are the top-ranked rugby team in the world and reigning World Champions, having won the World Cup a record four times. Remarkably, the Springboks have won half of the Rugby World Cups they have participated in and are also the second nation to win the World Cup consecutively.

Morné du Plessis OIS is a former South African rugby union player often described as one of the Springboks' most successful captains. During the five years from 1975 to 1980 that he served as captain, the Springboks won 13 of 15 matches, giving Du Plessis an 86.66% success rate as captain.

A World XV is a rugby union team organised on an unofficial, ad hoc basis and typically composed of invited players from various countries. Several World XVs have been arranged by various bodies since the 1970s, often to take part in celebration and testimonial games, usually against national teams, but these are not considered test matches by most nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bismarck du Plessis</span> South African rugby union player

Bismarck Wilhelm du Plessis is a South African former professional rugby union player, who played for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. He played for the Free State Cheetahs in 2003, before moving to the Sharks in 2005 where he spent the bulk of his career, and then to Montpellier in the French Top 14. He is widely acknowledged to be one of the best hookers of his time, both in club and country performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paddy Carolin</span> South African rugby union player

Harold "Paddy" Carolin was a rugby union player who represented South Africa and is credited with conceiving both the 3-4-1 scrum formation and helping choose the name 'Springboks' for the South African national side. Carolin was the second player ever to serve as captain abroad, following Paul Roos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morné Steyn</span> Rugby player

Morné Steyn, is a South African former professional rugby union player who played as a fly-half for the Bulls and played for the South Africa national team, up until his retirement from international test rugby in October 2021.

Sydney Nomis was a South African national rugby union player who until 2001 held the record for most consecutive matches (25) played for the Springboks. Nomis is best remembered for tries that he scored against France in 1968 and the All Blacks in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pieter-Steph du Toit</span> South African rugby union player

Pieter Stephanus du Toit is a South African professional rugby union player. Du Toit plays as a lock or a flanker for the South Africa national team and the Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One. After winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup with South Africa, he was awarded the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year. He was awarded player of the match in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand.

In June 2012, the England national rugby union team went on a three-test tour against the South Africa national rugby union team, known colloquially and referred to hereafter as the Springboks. This was one of a series of mid-year tours in 2012 by northern teams to be hosted by southern hemisphere nations.

The 2013 Rugby Championship, known as The Castle Rugby Championship in South Africa, The Investec Rugby Championship in New Zealand, The Castrol Edge Rugby Championship in Australia and The Personal Rugby Championship in Argentina for sponsorship reasons, was the second edition of the expanded annual southern hemisphere championship consisting of Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. New Zealand as the 2012 holders, was trying to keep their 100% winning record in the championship after winning six from six in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Villager Football Club</span> Rugby team

Villager Football Club was established on 2 June 1876 and so claims to be the second oldest rugby club in Cape Town, South Africa. Villager FC were scheduled to play against Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club in the first official match at Newlands Stadium after it opened on 31 May 1890. Many notable South African rugby players began their careers at the club, including Paddy Carolin, vice-captain on the 1906 Springbok tour to Europe, and former 800m track world record holder Marcello Fiasconaro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Louw</span> South Africa international rugby union & league player

Robert James Louw is a South African rugby footballer who represented South Africa 19 times in international test rugby union. He also played in the Western Province teams that won the Currie Cup five consecutive times. South African rugby chief Danie Craven rated Louw as "one of the best Springboks ever to represent South Africa", "fast enough to play among the backs", and a "superb ambassador for South Africa" due to "his friendly manner and attractive personality". Louw was nominated as South African Rugby Player of the Year in 1979 and in 1984.

The 1980 South Africa rugby union tour of South America was a series of six matches played by the South Africa national rugby union team in Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile in October 1980. The South Africa team won all six of their matches including both test matches against the South American Jaguars.

The History of the South Africa national rugby union team dates back to 1891, when the British Lions first toured South Africa where they played against South African representative sides. The South Africa national rugby union team played few international matches during a period of international sanctions due to apartheid. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa has once again fully participated in international rugby.

Willem du Plessis is a former South African rugby union player.

Thomas Dannhauser du Plessis is a former South African rugby union player.

Deon Eugene Lotter is a former South African rugby union player.

Basil John Kenyon was a South African rugby union player.

References

  1. ↑ Morgan, Brad (14 September 2009). "Springboks win 2009 Tri-Nations". SouthAfrica.info. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Morné du Plessis". Who's Who Southern Africa. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Wanderers never been short of quality locks". The Citizen. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Nic du Plessis". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  5. 1 2 Carlin, John (2008). Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation. New York: Penguin. ISBN   978-1-594-20174-5.
  6. ↑ Felix' grandson, Luc du Plessis, was playing eighthman for the Wanderers in 2012. Hannes Strydom, who played in the 1995 World Rugby Cup final, is another well-known lock from the same club.The Citizen, 3 August 2012 Archived 21 April 2013 at archive.today .
  7. ↑ "Famous SACS Players 1891 – 1945". Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Morné du Plessis". SA Sports & Arts Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Introduction '56". The McLook Rugby Collection. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "All Blacks 1949 Tour Factbox". 22 July 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "First three tour matches. All Blacks 28 – Border 3". The McLook Rugby Collection. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Basil Kenyon". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  13. ↑ Van der Watt, Frans (7 January 2005). "Vanjaar dalk grote vir Grace Yazbek". Volksblad. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  14. ↑ Retief, Dan (20 October 2009). "Your captain is a great guy…". SuperSport. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Felix du Plessis". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Felix du Plessis". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Springbok Captain
1949		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.