Petrus Fourie du Preez (Afrikaans pronunciation:[fuˈriduˈpri.ə]; born 24 March 1982) is a South African former professional rugby union player who played as a scrum-half for the Bulls between 2001 and 2011, and for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan from 2011 to 2016. He represented South Africa from 2004 to 2015, earning 76 caps and scoring 16 tries. Du Preez played in three Rugby World Cup tournaments and was a central figure in South Africa’s victory at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Du Preez enjoyed a decorated career, winning the World Rugby Under 21 Championship in 2002, three Currie Cup titles (2003, 2004, 2009), three Super Rugby titles (2007, 2009, 2010), and two Tri Nations championships (2004, 2009). He was named SA Rugby Player of the Year twice, in 2006 and 2009, and received a nomination for IRB Player of the Year in 2006.
Considered one of the greatest scrum-halves of the professional era, Du Preez is widely praised for his tactical mastery, kicking precision and game management, and is frequently cited by players, coaches and analysts as one of the finest Springboks of all time.
Early life
Du Preez was born in Pretoria, South Africa.[1] He is the son of Fourie du Preez Snr, a former eighthman who represented Northern Transvaal in the 1960s and 1970s and who also worked as a chartered accountant.[2] He is also the nephew of former Springbok great Frik du Preez.[3]
Du Preez grew up as a lifelong Blue Bulls supporter. His father bought season tickets at Loftus Versfeld for him as a child, allowing him to attend matches almost every weekend—an experience Du Preez later credited as shaping his deep connection to the team.[4]
He attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies), where he emerged as one of the leading schoolboy scrumhalves of his province. Du Preez represented the Blue Bulls at Craven Week,[5] though he was not selected for the South African Schools team.[6]
After matriculating, he initially signed to join the Lions but requested a release before joining the team, choosing instead to sign with the Bulls—the union he had supported since childhood.[7]
Club career
Bulls
Du Preez joined the Bulls in 2001, initially representing the franchise at age-group level.[8] He made his provincial debut for the Blue Bulls later that same year at age 19 in a Currie Cup match against the Leopards.[9]
Du Preez made his Super 12 debut for the Bulls in 2003 against the ACT Brumbies. He was central to the Bulls’ rise in Super Rugby, winning three titles with the franchise: the 2007 Super 14,[10] the 2009 Super 14—where he scored two tries in the final,[11] and the 2010 Super 14.
He also won three Currie Cup titles with the Blue Bulls, in 2003, 2004 and 2009,[12] and played in the 2005 final, which the Bulls lost to the Free State Cheetahs.[13]
By the time he left South Africa, Du Preez had made 164 appearances for the Bulls across all competitions.[14]
Suntory Sungoliath
Du Preez joined Suntory Sungoliath in Japan ahead of the 2011–12 season.[15] He became one of the side’s most high profile foreign players and represented the club 55 times before retiring in 2016.[16]
Du Preez gained his first experience of international competition at junior level, representing South Africa at an Under-19 level before progressing to the Under-21 side. He was part of the South African squad that won the 2002 IRB Under-21 Rugby World Championship.[18]
Du Preez made his Test debut for South Africa on 12 June 2004 against Ireland in Bloemfontein.[19] He scored his first Test try later that year against New Zealand in Christchurch.[20]
He played a central role in South Africa’s victorious 2004 Tri Nations campaign, appearing in all of South Africa’s matches during their unbeaten run to the title.[21][22]
Du Preez was widely regarded as one of the standout players of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, which South Africa won. He delivered a defining performance in the pool match against England, creating three tries and being named Man of the Match in a 36–0 victory.[23] He scored a try in the semi-final win over Argentina[24] and started in the final as South Africa defeated England to claim their second World Cup title.
He was again a major contributor during South Africa’s 2009 Tri Nations triumph, appearing in all six matches as the Springboks lost only once and defeated New Zealand in all three Tests between the sides.[25]
Du Preez played at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, featuring in pool-stage wins over Wales, Fiji, Namibia and Samoa, before South Africa were eliminated by Australia in the quarter-finals. After signing in Japan in late 2011, his Test appearances became less frequent not appearing in 2012, though he returned in 2013 following shoulder surgery.
Du Preez was selected again for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Following the injury withdrawal of captain Jean de Villiers, he assumed an on-field leadership role for the remainder of the tournament.[26] He scored the decisive try in the quarter-final victory over Wales,[27] sending South Africa into the semi-finals, where they were narrowly beaten by New Zealand. The match was his final Test appearance.[28]
Across his international career, Du Preez won 76 caps for South Africa and scored 16 Test tries.[29]
Legacy
Du Preez is widely regarded as one of the greatest scrum-halves of the professional era and one of the finest players to have represented South Africa. His combination of tactical intelligence, kicking accuracy, defensive organisation and decision-making has led many analysts and former players to describe him as one of the most influential No. 9s in modern rugby.
Several of Du Preez’s contemporaries have publicly rated him as the best scrum-half they ever faced. Former All Blacks No. 9 Aaron Smith and Wallabies great Will Genia both named him as the world’s leading scrum-half of his generation.[30]
Former Wallabies and England coach Eddie Jones described Du Preez as “the best decision-making halfback I’ve ever seen”, praising his tactical control and comparing his leadership to that of an NFL quarterback. Jones added that Du Preez’s ability to dictate a match was “like having a coach on the field”.[31]
Former England head coach Brian Ashton called Du Preez “the finest half-back in the world”, commending his tactical understanding and describing him as one of the most astute students of the game he had encountered. Ashton credited Du Preez with the rare ability to “shape a game to his side’s requirements”.[32]
Heyneke Meyer described Du Preez as a “general”, noting his ability to direct play and create opportunities others could not see.[33]
In 2025, a nationwide public poll conducted by SuperSport for the “Springbok Dream Team” voted Du Preez as the greatest scrum-half ever to play for South Africa.[34]
Personal life
Du Preez married Jané in 2007,[35] and the couple have two children.[36]
Following his retirement from professional rugby, Du Preez moved into the business sector and works at Fledge Capital, a private equity firm based in Pretoria.[37] He has also contributed to coaching at the Bulls, assisting the franchise on a part-time basis.[38]
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