View source for Willie du Plessis (rugby union, born 1955)

{{short description|South African rugby union footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Willie du Plessis
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = 	Willem du Plessis
| nickname =
| birth_place = [[Somerset East]], Eastern Cape, South Africa
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|09|04|df=y}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| ru_currentteam =
| ru_currentposition =
| height = 1.80m
| weight = 83kg
| ru_position =[[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]]
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = [[Maties]]
| amatapps1 =
| amatpoints1 =
| ru_province1 = [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]]
| ru_provinceyears1 = 1977–1982
| ru_provinceapps1 = 67
| ru_provincepoints1 = 160
| repteam1 = [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
| repyears1 = 1980–1982
| repcaps1 = 14
| reppoints1 = 12 [3t]
| coachteams1 =
| coachyears1 =
| ru_coachupdate =
| spouse =
| children = [[Lizaan du Plessis]]
| relatives = [[Michael du Plessis]] (brother), [[Carel du Plessis]] (brother), Jacques du Plessis (brother)
| school = [[Gill College]], Somerset East
| university = [[Stellenbosch University]]
}}
'''Willem du Plessis''' (born 4 September 1955)<ref>[http://en.espn.co.uk/southafrica/rugby/player/9132.html ESPNScrum.com: Willie du Plessis]</ref> is a former [[South Africa]]n [[rugby union]] player.
==Early life==
Du Plessis was born in [[Somerset East]] in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. His father, also named Willie, played provincial rugby for [[Eastern Province Elephants|Eastern Province]] and his maternal grandfather, Michael Josias du Plessis played for [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] in 1923 and 1924. Du Plessis was educated at [[Gill College]] in Somerset East and in 1973, represented North Eastern Cape at the annual [[Craven Week]] tournament. He also represented Eastern Province at the South African junior athletics championships.<ref name="Matieland">{{cite book |last1=van der Merwe |first1=Floris |title=Matieland is Rugbyland 1980-2006 |date=2007 |publisher=Sun Press |location=Stellenbosch |isbn=978-1-920109-79-0 |page=107}}</ref>
==Playing career==
In 1975, du Plessis enrolled at [[Stellenbosch University]] for a degree in Physical Education and in 1977 made his debut for Western Province. Between 1977 and 1982, he played 67 matches for Western Province and was a member of the Western Province team that won the Currie Cup in 1982. Two of his brothers, [[Michael du Plessis|Michael]] and [[Carel du Plessis|Carel]], were also in the 1982 Currie Cup winning team.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Parker|first=A. C.|title=W.P. Rugby : centenary, 1883-1983|publisher=WPRFU|others=Western Province Rugby Football Union (South Africa)|year=1983|isbn=0-620-06555-9|edition=1st|location=Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa|pages=284–301|oclc=54188953}}</ref>
Du Plessis made his test debut for the [[Springboks]] against the visiting [[1980 South American Jaguars rugby union tour of South Africa|South American Jaguars]] team on 26 April 1980 and in so doing became the 500th Springbok rugby player. He was capped 14 times and scored 3 test tries for the Springboks.<ref>{{Cite book|title=South African rugby test players 1949-1995|last=Jooste|first=Graham K.|date=1995|publisher=Penguin|isbn=0140250174|location=Johannesburg|pages=89–114|oclc=36916860}}</ref> Du Plessis also played in six tour matches, scoring four tries for the Springboks.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The South African Rugby Annual 1999|last=Colquhoun|first=Andy|publisher=MWP Media Sport|year=1999|isbn=0958423148|location=Cape Town|pages=144}}</ref> He retired at the end of the 1982 season, at the age of 26, to take up farming.<ref name="Matieland" />
===Test history===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! No. !! Opposition !! Result (SA 1st) !! Position !! Tries !! Date !! Venue
|-
|1. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] [[South American Jaguars]] ||24–9  || [[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]]||  || 26 April 1980 || [[Wanderers Stadium]], [[Johannesburg]]
|-
|2. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] South American Jaguars ||18–9  ||Centre||  || 3 May 1980 || [[Kings Park Stadium]], [[Durban]]
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|3. || {{flag|British and Irish Lions|name=British Lions}} ||26–22  ||Centre  || align="center"|1 || 31 May 1980 || [[Newlands Stadium|Newlands]], [[Cape Town]]
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|4. || {{flagicon|British and Irish Lions}} British Lions  ||26–19  ||Centre ||  || 14 June 1980 || [[Free State Stadium]], [[Bloemfontein]]
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|5. || {{flagicon|British and Irish Lions}} British Lions  ||12–10  ||Centre  ||  || 28 June 1980 || [[EPRU Stadium|Boet Erasmus Stadium]], [[Port Elizabeth]]
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|6. || {{flagicon|British and Irish Lions}} British Lions  ||13–17  ||Centre  || align="center"|1 || 12 July 1980|| [[Loftus Versfeld Stadium|Loftus Versfeld]], [[Pretoria]]
|-
|7. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] South American Jaguars ||22–13  ||Centre ||   || 18 October 1980  || Wanderers Club, [[Montevideo]]
|-
|8. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] South American Jaguars ||30–16  ||Centre ||  || 25 October 1980  ||Prince of Wales Country Club, [[Santiago, Chile|Santiago]]
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|9. || {{ru|FRA}} ||37–15  ||Centre  ||  || 8 November 1980 || Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
|-
|10. || {{ru|NZL}}  ||9–14  ||Centre  ||  || 15 August 1981 || [[Lancaster Park]], [[Christchurch]]
|-
|11. || {{flagicon|NZL}} New Zealand  || 24–12 ||Centre  ||  || 29 August 1981 || [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]], [[Wellington New Zealand|Wellington]]
|-
|12. || {{flagicon|NZL}} New Zealand  || 22–25 ||Centre  ||  || 12 September 1981|| [[Eden Park]], [[Auckland]]
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|13. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] South American Jaguars ||50–18 ||Centre  || align="center"|1 || 27 March 1982 || Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|14. || [[File:Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg|24px]] South American Jaguars ||12–21 ||Centre  ||  || 3 April 1982 || Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
|}
==Accolades==
In 1979, du Plessis was named one of the five South African Young Players of the Year, along with [[Darius Botha]], Doug Jeffrey, [[Andre Markgraaff]] and [[Gawie Visagie]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The South African Rugby Annual 1999|last=Colquhoun|first=Andy|publisher=MWP Media Sport|year=1999|isbn=0958423148|location=Cape Town|pages=26}}</ref>
==Personal==
Du Plessis is the brother of Michael du Plessis and Carel du Plessis, both former Springboks and the father of [[Lizaan du Plessis]], a former professional tennis player. His fourth brother, Jacques du Plessis played provincial rugby for Western Province and Eastern Province. During the latter part of the 2000s, Du Plessis emigrated to Australia and resides in Sydney.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sydney University: Willie Doep|url=http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/community/threads/sydney-university-willie-doep.8322/|website=Green and Gold Rugby|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[List of South Africa national rugby union players#List|List of South Africa national rugby union players]] – Springbok no. '''500'''
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Du Plessis, Willie}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:South African rugby union players]]
[[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Western Province (rugby union) players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Somerset East]]
[[Category:Rugby union centres]]
[[Category:Stellenbosch University alumni]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from the Eastern Cape]]