Willie du Plessis

Willie du Plessis
Personal information
Full nameWillem Nicolaas Frederik du Plessis
Born5 June 1990
Pretoria, South Africa
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight93 kg (14 st 9 lb)
School(s) attendedAfrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Club information
Playing positionFly-half
Current clubFree State Cheetahs
Youth career
2008Blue Bulls
2009–11Natal Sharks
2011Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeam
2012–13UP Tuks12(46)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Pts)†
2012Blue Bulls7(86)
2013Free State Cheetahs9(6)
2014Golden Lions10(93)
2014–Free State Cheetahs10(97)
2015–Cheetahs7(7)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 11 April 2015.
† Appearances (Points).

Willem Nicolaas Frederik du Plessis (born 5 June 1990 in Pretoria) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Free State Cheetahs.[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 Natal 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]

Varsity Cup

He also played Varsity Cup rugby for UP Tuks, making twelve appearances in 2012 and 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "SARU Player Profile Willie du Plessis". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "2010 Under-21 Provincial Championship Top Scorers". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "2012 Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup season". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Vodacom Blue Bulls vs Valke". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  5. ↑ "2013 Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup season". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Valke vs Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Player of the Week: Willie du Plessis". Blue Bulls. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "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.