# Pieter-Steph du Toit

Pieter Stephanus du Toit (born 20 August 1992) is a South African professional rugby union player and two-time winner of World Rugby Player of the Year (in 2019, 2024). Du Toit plays as a lock or a flanker for the South Africa national team and the Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One. After winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup with South Africa, he was awarded the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year, an award he won for a second time in 2024. He was awarded man of the match in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand. Known for his stamina, tackling ability and high work rate, he is considered to be one of the greatest players of his generation.

## School and youth career

Du Toit went to primary school at Laerskool Riebeek Kasteel in the small town in the Riebeek Valley. His family farmed on the historical farm Kloovenburg situated in Riebeek Kasteel. Du Toit then went to high school at Hoërskool Swartland where he played mostly in the second row.
Du Toit was a member of the South Africa Under 20 team that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship.

## Senior career

In July 2013, Du Toit signed a two-year contract extension with the Sharks. The Sharks announced his departure in October 2015.
He made his South Africa Test debut versus Wales in Cardiff on 9 November 2013 at age 21. Du Toit has since become a regular for the Springboks and was a part of the South African team for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Du Toit came off the bench in the quarter-final, when South Africa beat Wales 23–19 at Twickenham Stadium. The following season saw Du Toit become a regular starter for South Africa, under new head coach, Allister Coetzee.
On 2 June 2018, Du Toit became the 60th captain of South Africa, as he led the Springboks out against Wales, losing the match 20–22. Du Toit also took part in the mid-year series against England, which South Africa won.
He moved to the back row from 2019 onwards.
Du Toit was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. South Africa won the tournament, defeating England in the final. He was awarded the World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year in 2019. He was also Player of the Match in the 2023 World Cup final against the All Blacks in the Springboks successful defense of their World Cup title, making an astounding 28 tackles.

## International statistics
### Test match record

    As of 13 August 2021
| Against | P | W | D | L | Tri | Pts | %Won |
| Argentina | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 66.67 |
| Australia | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 57.14 |
| British and Irish Lions | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| England | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| France | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 100 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Ireland | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 50 |
| Italy | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Japan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| New Zealand | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18.75 |
| Scotland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Wales | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Total | 58 | 32 | 3 | 23 | 5 | 25 | 57.76 |
Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

### Test tries

| Try | Opposition | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
| 1 | Ireland | Cape Town, South Africa | Newlands | Test match | 11 June 2016 | Loss | 20–26 |
| 2 | Ireland | Johannesburg, South Africa | Ellis Park Stadium | Test match | 18 June 2016 | Win | 32–26 |
| 3 | Argentina | Salta, Argentina | Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena | 2016 Rugby Championship | 27 August 2016 | Loss | 26–24 |
| 4 | Argentina | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | 2017 Rugby Championship | 19 August 2017 | Win | 37–15 |
| 5 | New Zealand | Yokohama, Japan | International Stadium Yokohama | 2019 Rugby World Cup | 21 September 2019 | Loss | 23–13 |
| 6 | Australia | Pretoria, South Africa | Loftus Versfeld Stadium | 2023 Rugby Championship | 8 July 2023 | Win | 43–12 |
| 7 | Wales | Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches | 19 August 2023 | Win | 52–16 |
| 8 | Scotland | Marseille, France | Stade Vélodrome | 2023 Rugby World Cup | 10 September 2023 | Win | 18–3 |
| 9 | Australia | Brisbane, Australia | Lang Park | 2024 Rugby Championship | 10 August 2024 | Win | 33-7 |
| 10 | Argentina | Mbombela, South Africa | Mbombela Stadium | 2024 Rugby Championship | 28 September 2024 | Win | 48–7 |
| 11 | Argentina | Mbombela, South Africa | Mbombela Stadium | 2024 Rugby Championship | 28 September 2024 | Win | 48–7 |
| 12 | England | London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals | 16 November 2024 | Win | 20–29 |

## Honours

Natal Sharks
* 2013 Currie Cup winner
South Africa
* 2012 IRB Junior World Championship winner
* 2019 Rugby Championship winner
* 2019 Rugby World Cup winner
* 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa winner
* 2023 Rugby World Cup winner
* 2024 Rugby Championship winner
South Africa Rugby Union Awards
* SARU Player of the Year: 2016, 2018 and 2019
World Rugby awards
* World Rugby Player of the Year: 2019, 2024

## Personal life

Du Toit, a Christian, is the grandson of former Springbok prop, Piet "Spiere" du Toit and is the older brother of Johan, also a professional rugby player. The two brothers were contracted to the Sharks at the same time (in 2014 and 2015) before reuniting at the Stormers from 2017 onwards. He is nicknamed the Malmesbury Missile.
Du Toit is married to Willemien, with whom he has three children.