JP du Preez

JP du Preez
Full name Jean-Pierre du Preez
Date of birth (1994-11-09) 9 November 1994
Place of birth Florida, Roodepoort, South Africa
Height 2.09 m (6 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Weight 115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb)
School Hoërskool Dr. E.G. Jansen, Boksburg
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Cheetahs / Free State Cheetahs / Free State XV
Youth Career
2012 Falcons
2013–2015 Golden Lions
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 Lions 1 (0)
2015–2017 Golden Lions XV 13 (15)
2016 Golden Lions 4 (5)
2018–present Free State XV 5 (5)
2018–present Free State Cheetahs 1 (0)
2018–present Cheetahs 4 (0)
Correct as of 22 September 2018

Jean-Pierre du Preez (born 9 November 1994 in Florida, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the Cheetahs in the Pro14, the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and the Free State XV in the Rugby Challenge.[1] His regular position is lock.

He is the tallest player in the history of Super Rugby.

Career

Youth

Du Preez represented the Falcons at the 2012 Under-18 Craven Week tournament in Port Elizabeth,[2] scoring a try in their match against the Leopards.[3][4] Despite still being at school, he was also included in the Falcons U19 squad that played in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship a few months later, starting six of their matches as they reached the semi-finals of the competition.

In 2013, Du Preez made the short move to the Johannesburg-based Golden Lions. He was once again heavily involved at the Under-19 level, starting eleven matches for the Golden Lions U19s in the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship, helping them reach the final of the competition, where they lost 23–35 to Blue Bulls U19.[5] In addition, he also made two appearances for the Golden Lions U21 side in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship.

Du Preez was included in the Golden Lions' squad for the 2014 Vodacom Cup, but failed to appear in the competition. He made nine appearances for the Golden Lions U21 during the round-robin stage of the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring a try in their match against Leopards U21.[6] He missed the final regular season matches of the season when he picked up a four-week suspension following a dangerous tackle on Sharks U21 scrum-half Stefan Ungerer,[7] but returned to the line-up for their semi-final clash with the Blue Bulls U21. He scored an early try for the Lions in the match, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Lions falling to a 19–23 defeat and being eliminated from the competition.[8]

Golden Lions / Lions

In 2015, he was included in the Lions squad for the 2015 Super Rugby season and was named on the bench for their Round Two match against the Sharks.[9] He made his Super Rugby debut, coming on as a substitute just after the hour mark[10] and, in doing so, becoming the tallest player ever to play Super Rugby.

References

  1. ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – JP du Preez". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "EP magic at Craven Week". Rugby365. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "EP retain unbeaten status". Rugby365. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 38-5 Leopards". South African Rugby Union. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 23-35 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Golden Lions U21 43-13 Leopards U21". South African Rugby Union. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "JP du Preez suspended for four weeks". Rugby15. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blue Bulls U21 23-19 Golden Lions U21". South African Rugby Union. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  9. ↑ "Team Announcement - Cell C Sharks vs Emirates Lions". Lions. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Cell C Sharks 29-12 Emirates Lions". South African Rugby Union. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
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