Robert du Preez (rugby player born 1993)

Robert du Preez
Personal information
Full nameRobert James du Preez
Born30 July 1993
Durban, South Africa
Height1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
School(s) attendedKearsney College, KwaZulu-Natal
RelativesRobert du Preez (father),
Dan du Preez (brother),
Jean-Luc du Preez (brother)
Club information
Playing positionFly-half / Centre / Fullback
Current clubWestern Province
Youth career
2006–13Natal Sharks
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeam
2014Maties8(84)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Pts)
2014–Western Province4(9)
Representative team(s)
2013S.A. Under-204(28)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 25 October 2014.

† Appearances (Points).

‡ Representative team caps and points correct as of 30 April 2014.

Robert James du Preez (born 30 July 1993 in Durban) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with Western Province.[1] His regular position is fly-half.

Career

Youth and Varsity Rugby

Du Preez represented the Natal Sharks at the Under-13 Craven Week tournament in 2006 and at the Under-18 Craven Week tournament in 2011 before joining the Sharks Academy. He played for the Sharks U19 side in 2011 and 2012. In the 2012 competition, Du Preez was the top points scorer in the competition scoring seven tries, thirty conversions and fifteen penalties for a total of 140 points.[2]

In 2013, Du Preez was included in the S.A. Under-20 squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship. He started the pool matches against the United States (kicking six conversions)[3] and England (scoring two conversions and four penalties).[4] He was an unused substitute in their final pool match against hosts France,[5] but returned to the starting line-up for their semi-final match against Wales[6] and came on as a substitute in the third-placed play-off against New Zealand.[7]

Upon his return to domestic action, he weighed in with 108 points for the Sharks U21 side during the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship competition to finish third in the top scorers list.[8]

In 2014, he moved to Stellenbosch to join Maties on loan for their 2014 Varsity Cup campaign. He once again topped the scoring charts, scoring 84 points during Maties' run to the semi-final of the competition.[9] He was also named the "Player that Rocks" for the tournament.[10]

Western Province

Instead of returning to Durban at the conclusion of the 2014 Varsity Cup, Du Preez decided to remain in the Western Cape, signing a contract with Western Province until 2016.[11]

He was included in their senior squad straight away and made his first class debut in the 2014 Vodacom Cup match against the Free State XV,[12] also scoring a try to help his side to a 28–15 victory.

Personal

Du Preez's father – also called Robert – is a former Springbok scrum-half that made seven appearances for South Africa between 1992 and 1993.[13]

He also has two younger twin brothers – Dan and Jean-Luc – that were both included in the S.A. Under-20 squad for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship.[14]

References

  1. "SARU Player Profile Robert du Preez". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  2. "2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship Top Scorers". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  3. "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs USA". South African Rugby Union. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  4. "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs England". South African Rugby Union. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  5. "Match Breakdown: France vs South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  6. "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs Wales". South African Rugby Union. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  7. "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs New Zealand". South African Rugby Union. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  8. "2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship Top Scorers". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  9. "2014 Varsity Cup Top Scorers". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  10. "Du Preez ends top of the pile". Varsity Cup. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  11. "WP scoop Sharks' Du Preez". Sport24. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  12. "Match Breakdown: DHL Western Province vs Toyota Free State XV". South African Rugby Union. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  13. "Meet the Du Preez Trio: Robert, Daniel and Jean-Luc". S.A. School Sports. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  14. "Junior Springboks named for JWC 2014". South African Rugby Union. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.