Christo du Plessis
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Christo du Plessis
| image =
| fullname = Christo John du Plessis
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|06|02}}
| birth_place = George, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.88}}
| weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = George High School
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Flanker / Number eight
| currentclub = {{Rut|Griffons}}
| youthyears1 = 2007
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}
| youthyears2 = 2008
| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Griffons}}
| youthyears3 = 2009–2010
| youthclubs3 = {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}
| years1 = 2010–2017
| clubs1 = {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}
| apps1 = 85
| points1 = 90
| amatyears1 = 2010–2012
| amatteam1 = Blanco
| amatapps1 =
| amatpoints1 =
| amatyears2 = 2013
| amatteam2 = Evergreens
| amatapps2 = 2
| amatpoints2 = 5
| clubupdate = 29 May 2018
}}
Christo John du Plessis (born 2 June 1989 in George, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player who most recently played the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=43566 | name=Christo du Plessis | date=29 May 2016}} His regular position is flanker or number eight.
Career
=Youth and amateur rugby=
As a scholar playing rugby for George High School,{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2007/05/07/JB/12/swdskol.html | title=George-skole baas | publisher=Die Burger | date=7 May 2007 | access-date=6 July 2014 | language=Afrikaans | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165017/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2007/05/07/JB/12/swdskol.html | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead }} Du Plessis was selected for the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}} side that played at the 2007 Under-18 Craven Week tournament.{{cite web|url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2007/05/28/JB/18/georgerugby.html |title=SWD-keurders kies vir Cravenweek |publisher=Die Burger |date=28 May 2007 |access-date=6 July 2014 |language=Afrikaans |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426202037/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2007/05/28/JB/18/georgerugby.html |archive-date=26 April 2014 |df=dmy }}
In 2008, he moved to Virginia to join the Harmony Sports Academy.{{cite web | url=http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2008/05/12/JP/9/gkGriffproew.html | title=Griffons hou finale rugbyproewe | publisher=Volksblad | date=12 May 2008 | access-date=6 July 2014 | language=Afrikaans | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714122118/http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2008/05/12/JP/9/gkGriffproew.html | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead }} He also represented the {{Rut|Griffons U19}} side in the 2008 Under-19 Provincial Championship,{{cite web | url=http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2008/08/20/GF/12/forugby.html | title=Griffons wys hul potensiaal | publisher=Volksblad | date=20 August 2008 | access-date=6 July 2014 | language=Afrikaans | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714151257/http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2008/08/20/GF/12/forugby.html | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead }} (which was the South African junior competition won by any Griffons side) and he was named their Forward of the Year.{{cite web | url=http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2008/11/12/GF/12/fojaarverslag.html | title=Span maak geskiedenis | publisher=Volksblad | date=12 November 2008 | access-date=6 July 2014 | language=Afrikaans | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714140658/http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2008/11/12/GF/12/fojaarverslag.html | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead }}
He returned to George in 2009 where he was named in the {{Rut|SWD U21}} side that played in the 2009 Under-21 Provincial Championship.
He also played some club rugby for Blanco between 2010 and 2012.
=SWD Eagles=
His introduction to first class rugby came during the 2010 Vodacom Cup competition when he was one of a number of club players that were included in the SWD Eagles squad for the competition.{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2010/04/20/KS/21/spt-klubs.html | title=Klubspelers wys hulle is reg vir Curriebeker | publisher=Die Son | date=20 April 2010 | access-date=6 July 2014 | language=Afrikaans | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714121314/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2010/04/20/KS/21/spt-klubs.html | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead }} He was an unused reserve in their match against the {{Rut|Free State XV}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=18833 | homeid=7976 | awayid=7977 | leagueid=765 | hometeam=SWD | homescore=13 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=Free State | matchdate=27 February 2010 | date=1 July 2016}} but then played off the bench in their match against the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} in Saldanha to make his debut.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=18849 | homeid=7978 | awayid=7976 | leagueid=765 | hometeam=Boland Kavaliers | homescore=25 | awayscore=24 | awayteam=SWD | matchdate=13 March 2010 | date=1 July 2016}} His second appearance came against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}}, which also saw Du Plessis score his first senior try in a 39–30 victory in Beaufort West.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=18655 | homeid=7976 | awayid=7981 | leagueid=765 | hometeam=SWD | homescore=39 | awayscore=30 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=17 April 2010 | date=1 July 2016}}
He also made his Currie Cup debut later in 2010, during the 2010 Currie Cup First Division competition, playing off the bench in their match against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=18860 | homeid=8047 | awayid=8043 | leagueid=768 | hometeam=SWD | homescore=33 | awayscore=12 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=23 July 2010 | date=1 July 2016}}
=Blanco / Evergreens=
However, he then fell out of the provincial set-up and reverted to playing amateur rugby for local club side Blanco in 2011 and 2012, also captaining the side as they qualified for the National Club Championships in 2012.{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2012/09/13/SK/10/tuandre2.html | title=Groot terugslag vir SWD | publisher=Die Burger | date=13 September 2012 | access-date=6 July 2014 | language=Afrikaans | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714121938/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2012/09/13/SK/10/tuandre2.html | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead }}
He made a single appearance for the SWD Eagles in the 2012 Vodacom Cup, playing the last 20 minutes of their match against {{Rut|Western Province}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=104031 | homeid=11451 | awayid=11421 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=SWD Eagles | homescore=14 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=DHL Western Province | matchdate=21 April 2012 | date=1 July 2016}}
He joined Pacaltsdorp-based club side Evergreens in 2013 and made two appearances for them in the 2013 SARU Community Cup competition, also scoring a try in their match against White River from Mpumalanga.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=102904 | homeid=11084 | awayid=11324 | leagueid=1124 | hometeam=White River (Mpumalanga) | homescore=20 | awayscore=48 | awayteam=Evergreens (SWD) | matchdate=23 February 2013 | date=1 July 2016}}
=SWD Eagles (2013–)=
His club form saw him earn a contract with the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2013/03/21/SK/8/tuandre1.html | title=Evergreens slyp tande vir Gemeenskapsbeker | publisher=Die Burger | date=21 March 2013 | access-date=6 July 2014 | language=Afrikaans | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714134602/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2013/03/21/SK/8/tuandre1.html | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead }} and he made six appearances in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, scoring one try. He established himself as a first-choice player, starting ten matches for the Eagles during the 2013 Currie Cup First Division competition and playing off the bench twice. He also contributed three tries during the campaign as his side reached the semi-final stage of the competition before being eliminated 52–33 by eventual champions the {{Rut|Pumas}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106904 | homeid=12694 | awayid=12734 | leagueid=1304 | hometeam=Steval Pumas | homescore=52 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=4 October 2013 | date=1 July 2016}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Du Plessis, Christo}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from George, South Africa