Willem Hendrik Jacques "Sheep" du Plessis (born 12 August 1993) is a South African rugby union player. He plays for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup.[1] His regular playing positions are flanker or lock.

Jacques du Plessis
Full nameWillem Hendrik Jacques du Plessis
Date of birth (1993-08-12) 12 August 1993 (age 31)
Place of birthPongola, KwaZulu-Natal, Republic of South Africa
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight119 kg (18 st 10 lb; 262 lb)
SchoolErmelo High School, Ermelo
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock / Flanker
Current team Bulls / Blue Bulls
Youth career
2006 Sharks
2009–2011 Pumas
2012–2013 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 UP Tuks 3 (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2015 Blue Bulls 32 (25)
2013–2015 Bulls 31 (10)
2015–2021 Montpellier 105 (55)
2021– Blue Bulls 3 (0)
2021– Bulls 4 (0)
Correct as of 23 July 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 S.A. Schools
2013 South Africa Under-20 5 (5)
Correct as of 1 April 2015

Career

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Youth

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After representing the Sharks in the 2006 Under-13 Craven Week competition, he moved to Ermelo and subsequently represented the Pumas at the 2009 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week and 2011 Under-18 Craven Week tournaments. His performance in the latter tournament led to his selection in the 2011 South African Schools squad.[2]

In 2012, he joined the Blue Bulls and made twelve appearances for them in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship competition.[3]

Blue Bulls

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Du Plessis made his senior debut for the Blue Bulls in 2013, starting in the 110–0 thrashing of the Limpopo Blue Bulls.[4] He also started the game the following week in an equally impressive 89–10 victory against the Griffons,[5] a match that saw him score his first try, dotting down shortly after half-time.

In July 2013, the Blue Bulls announced that he signed a contract extension until 31 October 2015.[6]

Bulls

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In July 2013, Du Plessis was named on the bench for the Bulls' Super Rugby match against the Stormers[7] and came on as a substitute to make his Bulls debut.[8]

Du Plessis was included in the Bulls squad for the 2014 Super Rugby seasonto resign[9] and made his Super Rugby start in a 31–16 defeat to the Sharks in Durban.[10][11]

Montpellier

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Shortly before the 2015 Super Rugby season, the Bulls announced that Du Plessis would leave after the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division to take up a two-year contract with French Top 14 side Montpellier.[12]

Return to the Bulls

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On 12 April 2021, Du Plessis has left Montpellier early to return to South Africa with the Bulls.[13]

Representative rugby

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Du Plessis was included the South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship.[14]

In May 2014, Du Plessis was one of eight uncapped players that were called up to a Springbok training camp prior to the 2014 mid-year rugby union tests.[15]

Varsity Cup

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Du Plessis also played some Varsity Cup rugby, representing the UP Tuks in the 2013 Varsity Cup competition.[16]

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Jacques du Plessis Profile". Itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Scoresway Player Profile Jacques du Plessis". Scoresway. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Jacques du Plessis". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  4. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls 0–110 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  5. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 89–10 Down Touch Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Bulle hou vas aan dié jong Turke". Media24 (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Nel, Brenden (10 July 2013). "Hougi setback as Bulls name team". SuperSport. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  8. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Stormers 30–13 Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Vodacom Bulls team". Bulls. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Match Centre: Sharks v Bulls". SANZAR. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  11. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Cell C Sharks 31–16 Vodacom Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  12. ^ "Van der Merwe, Du Plessis off to France" (Press release). Bulls. 6 February 2015. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Bulls building enviable back-row depth". SA Rugby Mag. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Steenkamp leads powerful SA U20 JWC squad". South African Rugby Union. 25 April 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  15. ^ "Springbok training squad for Durban camp named". South African Rugby Union. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  16. ^ "SA Rugby Squad – Tuks : 2013 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  17. ^ "European Challenge Cup final: Harlequins 19-26 Montpellier". BBC Sport. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.