Willie du Plessis (rugby union, born 1990)

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Willie du Plessis
Willie du Plessis 2015-10-17 - 02.jpg
Full nameWillem Nicolaas Frederik du Plessis
Date of birth (1990-06-05) 5 June 1990 (age 35)
Place of birth Pretoria, South Africa
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight93 kg (14 st 9 lb; 205 lb)
School Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
University University of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Stade Montois
Youth career
2008 Blue Bulls
2009–2011 Sharks
2011 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012–2013 UP Tuks 12 (46)
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012 Blue Bulls 7 (86)
2013 Free State Cheetahs 9 (6)
2014 Golden Lions 10 (93)
2014–2015 Free State Cheetahs 12 (111)
2015 Cheetahs 8 (7)
2015 Toulon 7 (20)
2015–2019 Bayonne 68 (375)
2017 Montpellier 10 (110)
2019–2021 Biarritz 18 (119)
2021– Mont-de-Marsan 98 (342)
Correct as of 20 April 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2022- Netherlands 5 (7)
Correct as of 20 April 2025

Willem Nicolaas Frederik du Plessis (born 5 June 1990) is a South African-born Dutch international rugby union player, currently playing in France with the French Pro D2 side Mont-de-Marsan. [1] His regular position is fly-half. [2] [3]

Contents

Career

Youth

Du Plessis played for the Blue Bulls at the 2008 Under-18 Academy Week competition before moving to Durban to join the Sharks. He played for the Sharks U19 team in the 2009 Under-19 Provincial Championship and for the Sharks U21 team in the 2010 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring 96 points in twelve matches. [4] He was named in the Sharks' squad for the 2011 Vodacom Cup competition, but failed to make an appearance. He made two more appearances for the Sharks in the 2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship, before returning to the Blue Bulls U21 team for the latter part of the competition, making a further four appearances.

Blue Bulls

Du Plessis was included in the Blue Bulls squad for the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition [5] and made his first class debut against the Falcons, 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 the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition [7] and made his first start for the Blue Bulls, once again against the Falcons, [8] this time scoring seven conversions.

Du Plessis's next game in the competition came against the Limpopo Blue Bulls, with the Blue 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, a Vodacom Cup record. [10]

Free State Cheetahs

Du Plessis joined the Free State Cheetahs on a short-term deal for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division. [11]

Golden Lions

Du Plessis signed a two-year deal with the Golden Lions, joining them in November 2013. [11]

Return to Cheetahs

However, Du Plessis's time in Johannesburg was short-lived and he returned to Bloemfontein for the 2015 Super Rugby season, [12] signing a contract until the end of 2016.

Toulon

In August 2015, Du Plessis joined French Top 14 side Toulon as a medical joker on a three-month loan deal. [13]

Bayonne

Du Plessis joined Bayonne 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]

Varsity Cup

Du Plessis also played Varsity Cup rugby for UP Tuks, making twelve appearances in 2012 and 2013.

References

  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Willie du Plessis". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "Willie DU PLESSIS profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  3. "Willie DU PLESSIS - Player statistics - It's rugby". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  4. "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2010 ABSA Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Squad – Vodacom Blue Bulls : 2012 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 49–8 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Squad – Vodacom Blue Bulls : 2013 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 14–74 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls 0–110 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  10. "Player of the Week: Willie du Plessis". Blue Bulls. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Tukkies se generaal wil deel in VS-flair". Media24 (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  12. "Cheetahs sign Sergeal". SuperSport. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  13. "Willie du Plessis na Toulon, en Tier word 'n Cheetah". Netwerk24. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  14. "Willie du Plessis s'engage à l'Aviron Bayonnais !" (Press release) (in French). Aviron Bayonnais Rugby. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  15. "Ils prolongent à l'Aviron Bayonnais !" (Press release) (in French). Aviron Bayonnais Rugby. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2017.