Jean-Luc du Plessis (born 7 May 1994 in Cape Town) is a South African rugby union player for the Stormers in Super Rugby and for Western Province in the Currie Cup and the Rugby Challenge.[1] His regular position is fly-half.

Jean-Luc du Plessis
Date of birth (1994-05-07) 7 May 1994 (age 30)
Place of birthCape Town, South Africa
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10+12 in)
Weight87 kg (13 st 10 lb; 192 lb)
SchoolPaarl Boys' High School, Paarl
UniversityVarsity College
Notable relative(s)Carel du Plessis (father)
Michael du Plessis (uncle)
Willie du Plessis (uncle)
Daniël du Plessis (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half, Fullback
Current team Stormers / Western Province
Youth career
2007–2012 Western Province
2013–2014 Sharks
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 Sharks XV 2 (13)
2015–2019 Western Province 15 (83)
2016–2020 Stormers 39 (232)
2021–2022 Mie Honda Heat ()
2022– Stormers ()
2023– Western Province ()
Correct as of 24 November 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 South Africa Under-20 2 (2)
Correct as of 18 April 2018

Career

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Youth

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He represented Western Province at youth level, represented them at the 2007 Under-13 Craven Week competition and at the 2012 Under-18 Craven Week competition. However, at the end of 2012, despite being offered a spot in the Western Province Rugby Institute and receiving a contract with Western Province, he moved to Durban instead to join the Sharks Academy.[2][3]

Du Plessis was the third-highest scorer in the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship Division A competition for the Sharks U19,[4] scoring 116 points in eleven starts.

In April 2014, Du Plessis was named in the South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship.[5]

Sharks

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Du Plessis' first class debut came for the Sharks XV during the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition. He came on as a substitute in their 40–3 victory over Kenyan side Simba XV at City Park Stadium, Athlone. Within five minutes of coming on, Du Plessis scored a try and kicked the subsequent conversion.[6] His first start came in the following match, a 27–11 defeat to the Eastern Province Kings in Durban, with Du Plessis scoring two penalties.[7]

Western Province

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He returned to Cape Town in 2015, joining Western Province for the 2015 Vodacom Cup competition.

Personal

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Du Plessis is the son of former Springbok player and head coach, Carel du Plessis. Two of his uncles, Michael du Plessis and Willie du Plessis, are former Springboks. His cousin Daniël du Plessis is also a rugby player that represented the South Africa Under-20 team in 2015. He went to Kenridge Primary School and to Paarl Boys' High School

References

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  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Jean-Luc du Plessis". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Sharks contract 8 Junior Rugby Stars". Youth Sports Network. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  3. ^ "WP sign young flyhalves". Sport24. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  4. ^ "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2013 Absa Under 19 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Junior Springboks named for JWC 2014". South African Rugby Union. 22 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  6. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Tusker Simba XV 3–40 Cell C Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  7. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Cell C Sharks XV 11–27 Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.