# Willie du Plessis (rugby union, born 1955)

Willem du Plessis (born 4 September 1955) is a former South African 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 and his maternal grandfather, Michael Josias du Plessis played for 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.

## 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 and Carel, were also in the 1982 Currie Cup winning team.
Du Plessis made his test debut for the Springboks against the visiting 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. Du Plessis also played in six tour matches, scoring four tries for the Springboks. He retired at the end of the 1982 season, at the age of 26, to take up farming.

### Test history

| No. | Opposition | Result (SA 1st) | Position | Tries | Date | Venue |
| 1. | South American Jaguars | 24–9 | Centre | | 26 April 1980 | Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 2. | South American Jaguars | 18–9 | Centre | | 3 May 1980 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 3. | British Lions | 26–22 | Centre | 1 | 31 May 1980 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 4. | British Lions | 26–19 | Centre | | 14 June 1980 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 5. | British Lions | 12–10 | Centre | | 28 June 1980 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth |
| 6. | British Lions | 13–17 | Centre | 1 | 12 July 1980 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 7. | South American Jaguars | 22–13 | Centre | | 18 October 1980 | Wanderers Club, Montevideo |
| 8. | South American Jaguars | 30–16 | Centre | | 25 October 1980 | Prince of Wales Country Club, Santiago |
| 9. | France | 37–15 | Centre | | 8 November 1980 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 10. | New Zealand | 9–14 | Centre | | 15 August 1981 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch |
| 11. | New Zealand | 24–12 | Centre | | 29 August 1981 | Athletic Park, Wellington |
| 12. | New Zealand | 22–25 | Centre | | 12 September 1981 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 13. | South American Jaguars | 50–18 | Centre | 1 | 27 March 1982 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 14. | 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.

## 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.