Frik du Preez

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Frik du Preez
Personal information
Full name Frederick Christoffel Hendrik du Preez
Date of birth 28 November 1935 (1935-11-28) (age 72)
Place of birth Rustenburg, South Africa
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
School Parys High School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Lock, flanker
Provincial/State sides Caps (points)
1958–1971 Northern Transvaal 109
National team(s)    
1961–1971 South Africa 38 (11)

Frik du Preez (born Frederick Christoffel Hendrik du Preez on 28 November 1935) is a former Northern Transvaal and Springboks Rugby union player. He was born in the town of Rustenburg, South Africa and went to school at the Parys High School in Parys (Orange Free State). Du Preez mostly played in the flank or lock positions.

Du Preez played his first test for the Boks on 7 January 1961 at the age of 25 in the flank position against England at Twickenham, London. He played his last test on 7 August 1971 at the age of 35 as lock against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney.

Du Preez was an all round footballer, and like Australian lock John Eales, he was that rare phenomenon: a lock that could kick and even drop kick. Although he was not particularly tall, he was a tower of strength in the lineout. In addition he had a fantastic turn of speed and fine running skills with ball in hand, as he showed in the try he scored against the British Lions in 1968.

As expression of the esteem that he is held in by South African rugby fans, he was named the country's rugby player of the twentieth century.

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Persondata
NAME du Preez, Frik
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Frederick Christoffel Hendrik du Preez
SHORT DESCRIPTION South African rugby union footballer.
DATE OF BIRTH 28 November 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH Rustenburg , South Africa
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages