Carel du Plessis

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Carel du Plessis
Birth nameCarel Johan du Plessis
Date of birth (1960-06-24) 24 June 1960 (age 63)
Place of birth Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight85 kg (187 lb)
School Paarl Boys High
University Stellenbosch University
Children Jean-Luc du Plessis
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Centre
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1980–1986, 1988–1989 Western Province ()
1987 Transvaal ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1982–1989 South Africa 12 (16)
Coaching career
YearsTeam
1997 South Africa

Carel Johan du Plessis (born 24 June 1960) [1] is a former South African rugby union coach and player.

Contents

Playing career

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]

Test history

No.OppositionResult (SA 1st)PositionTriesDateVenue
1. South American Jaguars 50–18 Wing 127 March 1982 Loftus Versveld, Pretoria
2.South American Jaguars12–21Wing3 April 1982 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
3. England 33–15Wing12 June 1984 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
4.England35–9Wing9 June 1984 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
5.South American Jaguars32–15Wing20 October 1984Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
6.South American Jaguars21–13Wing127 October 1984 Newlands, Cape Town
7. New Zealand Cavaliers 21–15Wing110 May 1986Newlands, Cape Town
8.New Zealand Cavaliers18–19Wing17 May 1986 Kings Park, Durban
9.New Zealand Cavaliers33–18Wing24 May 1986Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
10.New Zealand Cavaliers24–10Wing31 May 1986Ellis Park, Johannesburg
11. World XV 20–19Wing26 Aug 1989Newlands, Cape Town
12.World XV22–16Wing2 Sep 1989Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Coaching career

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]

Personal

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]

See also

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References

  1. Carel du Plessis, Scrum.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Springbok legend Du Plessis undergoes brain operation", sport24.co.za, 6 February 2019.
  3. Danny Coyle, "Selecting the Greatest All-Time South Africa XV: 14: Carol du Plessis", Bleacher Report, 29 July 2014.
  4. "Du Plessis in the deep end as Lions make an early start", Mail & Guardian, 28 February 1997.
  5. Chris Hewett, "Rugby Union: Du Plessis made bold by his belief", The Independent, 7 June 1997.
  6. Ashfak Mohamed, "Carel: Don’t expect fireworks on Nov tour", IOL, 30 October 2016.
  7. "Springbok legend 'spiritually strong' in cancer battle". Sport. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
Sporting positions
Preceded by South Africa National Rugby Union Coach
19971997
Succeeded by