Willie du Plessis (rugby player born 1990)

Willie du Plessis
Full name Willem Nicolaas Frederik du Plessis
Date of birth (1990-06-05) 5 June 1990
Place of birth Pretoria, South Africa
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 93 kg (14 st 9 lb; 205 lb)
School Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
University University of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Montpellier
Youth Career
2008 Blue Bulls
2009–2011 Sharks
2011 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2013 UP Tuks 12 (46)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (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–present Bayonne 36 (205)
Correct as of 5 March 2017

Willem Nicolaas Frederik du Plessis (born 5 June 1990 in Pretoria) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with French Top 14 side Bayonne.[1] His regular position is fly-half.

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.[2] 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

He was included in the Blue Bulls squad for the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition[3] 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.[4] 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[5] and made his first start for the Blue Bulls, once again against the Falcons,[6] this time scoring seven conversions.

His next game in the competition came against the Limpopo Blue Bulls, with the Blue Bulls running out 110–0 victors.[7] Du Plessis weighed in with two tries and fifteen conversions (missing just one attempt), scoring 40 points in one match, a Vodacom Cup record.[8]

Free State Cheetahs

He joined the Free State Cheetahs on a short-term deal for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division.[9]

Golden Lions

He signed a two-year deal with the Golden Lions, joining them in November 2013.[9]

Return to Cheetahs

However, his time in Johannesburg was short-lived and he returned to Bloemfontein for the 2015 Super Rugby season,[10] signing a contract until the end of 2016.

Toulon

In August 2015, he joined French Top 14 side Toulon as a medical joker on a three-month loan deal.[11]

Bayonne

He joined Bayonne in November 2015 as a medical joker,[12] before signing a full-time contract a month later, signing a three-year deal starting in the 2016–17 season.[13]

Varsity Cup

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