| Intro | South African rugby union footballer | |
| Is |
Athlete Rugby union player |
|
| From | South Africa | |
| Type | Sports | |
| Gender | male | |
| Birth |
5 June 1990, Pretoria, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa |
|
| Age | 30 years | |
| Star sign | Gemini | |
| Sports Teams |
|
Willem Nicolaas Frederik du Plessis (born 5 June 1990 in Pretoria) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with French Top 14 side Bayonne. His regular position is fly-half.
Career
Youth
Du Plessis played for the Blue Bulls at the 2008 Under-18 Academy Week competition before moving to Durban to join the Sharks. He played for the Sharks U19 team in the 2009 Under-19 Provincial Championship and for the Sharks U21 team in the 2010 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring 96 points in twelve matches. He was named in the Sharks’ squad for the 2011 Vodacom Cup competition, but failed to make an appearance. He made two more appearances for the Sharks in the 2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship, before returning to the Blue Bulls U21 team for the latter part of the competition, making a further four appearances.
Blue Bulls
He was included in the Blue Bulls squad for the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition and made his first class debut against the Falcons, coming on as a half-time substitute and scoring a try within five minutes of his debut, as well as two conversions. He also appeared as a substitute in two of their remaining fixtures in the competition. He was once again included in their squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition and made his first start for the Blue Bulls, once again against the Falcons, this time scoring seven conversions.
His next game in the competition came against the Limpopo Blue Bulls, with the Blue Bulls running out 110–0 victors. Du Plessis weighed in with two tries and fifteen conversions (missing just one attempt), scoring 40 points in one match, a Vodacom Cup record.
Free State Cheetahs
He joined the Free State Cheetahs on a short-term deal for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division.
Golden Lions
He signed a two-year deal with the Golden Lions, joining them in November 2013.
Return to Cheetahs
However, his time in Johannesburg was short-lived and he returned to Bloemfontein for the 2015 Super Rugby season, signing a contract until the end of 2016.
Toulon
In August 2015, he joined French Top 14 side Toulon as a medical joker on a three-month loan deal.
Bayonne
He joined Bayonne in November 2015 as a medical joker, before signing a full-time contract a month later, signing a three-year deal starting in the 2016–17 season.
Varsity Cup
He also played Varsity Cup rugby for UP Tuks, making twelve appearances in 2012 and 2013.