| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Full name | Willem Hendrik Jacques du Plessis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 12 August 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal, Republic of South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 119 kg (18 st 10 lb; 262 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Ermelo High School, Ermelo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University of Pretoria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Willem Hendrik Jacques "Sheep" du Plessis (born 12 August 1993) is a South African rugby union player. He plays for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. [1] His regular playing positions are flanker or lock.
After representing the Sharks in the 2006 Under-13 Craven Week competition, he moved to Ermelo and subsequently represented the Pumas at the 2009 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week and 2011 Under-18 Craven Week tournaments. His performance in the latter tournament led to his selection in the 2011 South African Schools squad. [2]
In 2012, he joined the Blue Bulls and made twelve appearances for them in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship competition. [3]
Du Plessis made his senior debut for the Blue Bulls in 2013, starting in the 110–0 thrashing of the Limpopo Blue Bulls. [4] He also started the game the following week in an equally impressive 89–10 victory against the Griffons, [5] a match that saw him score his first try, dotting down shortly after half-time.
In July 2013, the Blue Bulls announced that he signed a contract extension until 31 October 2015. [6]
In July 2013, Du Plessis was named on the bench for the Bulls' Super Rugby match against the Stormers [7] and came on as a substitute to make his Bulls debut. [8]
Du Plessis was included in the Bulls squad for the 2014 Super Rugby seasonto resign [9] and made his Super Rugby start in a 31–16 defeat to the Sharks in Durban. [10] [11]
Shortly before the 2015 Super Rugby season, the Bulls announced that Du Plessis would leave after the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division to take up a two-year contract with French Top 14 side Montpellier. [12]
On 12 April 2021, Du Plessis has left Montpellier early to return to South Africa with the Bulls. [13]
Du Plessis was included the South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship. [14]
In May 2014, Du Plessis was one of eight uncapped players that were called up to a Springbok training camp prior to the 2014 mid-year rugby union tests. [15]
Du Plessis also played some Varsity Cup rugby, representing the UP Tuks in the 2013 Varsity Cup competition. [16]