Dan du Preez
{{short description|South Africa international rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Dan du Preez
| image =
| fullname = Daniel du Preez
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|08|05}}
| birth_place = Durban, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.96}}
| weight = {{nowrap|{{convert|112|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Kearsney College, KwaZulu-Natal
| university = Varsity College, Westville
| relatives = Robert du Preez (father),
Robert du Preez (brother),
Jean-Luc du Preez (brother)
| position = Loose forward / Lock
| currentclub = Sale Sharks
| youthyears1 = 2008–2015
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}
| years1 = 2015–2019
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks}}
| apps1 = 53
| points1 = 75
| years2 = 2015–2017
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks XV}}
| apps2 = 4
| points2 = 10
| years3 = 2015–2018
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}
| apps3 = 19
| points3 = 45
| years4 = 2019–
| clubs4 = Sale Sharks
| apps4 = 83
| points4 = 100
| repyears1 = 2012–2013
| repteam1 = South Africa Schools
| repcaps1 = 4
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 = 2015
| repteam2 = South Africa Under-20
| repcaps2 = 5
| reppoints2 = 10
| repyears3 = 2017–
| repteam3 = {{nrut|South Africa}}
| repcaps3 = 7
| reppoints3 = 0
| clubupdate = 20 May 2023
| repupdate = 26 August 2021
}}
Daniel du Preez (born 5 August 1995 in Durban, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the {{Rut|Sale Sharks}} in the English Premiership.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=45025 | name=Dan du Preez | date=29 May 2016}} His usual position is number eight, but he can also play as a lock or flanker.
Career
=Youth=
Du Preez was selected in a number of KwaZulu-Natal youth squads whilst still at school. At primary school level, he was selected for their squad that played at the 2008 Under-13 Craven Week competition. He also played in the premier schools competition in South Africa – the Under-18 Craven Week in three different seasons; he made two appearances at the 2011 event in Kimberley, three appearances at the 2012 event in Port Elizabeth – scoring a try in their match against the Free State{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=110921 | homeid=13741 | awayid=13751 | leagueid=1401 | hometeam=Free State | homescore=24 | awayscore=48 | awayteam=KZN | matchdate=9 July 2012 | date=4 July 2016}} – and a further three appearances in 2013, scoring a try against Border.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112574 | homeid=13904 | awayid=13954 | leagueid=1394 | hometeam=Border | homescore=14 | awayscore=77 | awayteam=KwaZulu Natal | matchdate=13 July 2013 | date=4 July 2016}}
In both 2012 and 2013, Du Preez was selected to represent a South African Schools team. In 2012, he played in their matches against France{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113231 | homeid=14841 | awayid=14871 | leagueid=1441 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=17 | awayscore=7 | awayteam=France | matchdate=10 August 2012 | date=4 July 2016}} and Wales{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113251 | homeid=14841 | awayid=14861 | leagueid=1441 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=24 | awayscore=16 | awayteam=Wales | matchdate=14 August 2012 | date=4 July 2016}} and in 2013 he made appearances against England{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112684 | homeid=15684 | awayid=15704 | leagueid=1524 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=19 | awayscore=14 | awayteam=England | matchdate=9 August 2013 | date=4 July 2016}} and Wales.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112704 | homeid=15684 | awayid=15714 | leagueid=1524 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=14 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Wales | matchdate=17 August 2013 | date=4 July 2016}}
He recovered from an injury that kept him out of the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship to play a key part in the {{Rut|Sharks U19}} side that played in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, making eleven appearances and scoring tries in their matches against {{Rut|Eastern Province U19}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127124 | homeid=21114 | awayid=21144 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=EP Kings U19 | homescore=7 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=Sharks U19 | matchdate=5 September 2014 | date=4 July 2016}} and {{Rut|Free State U19}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127164 | homeid=21134 | awayid=21144 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Free State U19 | homescore=22 | awayscore=18 | awayteam=Sharks U19 | matchdate=13 September 2014 | date=4 July 2016}} to help them qualify for the semi-finals, where they lost 20–43 to the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127284 | homeid=21104 | awayid=21144 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Blue Bulls U19 | homescore=43 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=Sharks U19 | matchdate=17 October 2014 | date=4 July 2016}}
=Sharks=
In 2015, despite not having featured at senior provincial level for the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}, Du Preez was included on the bench for the {{Rut|Sharks}}' Round Five Super Rugby match against the {{Rut|Cheetahs}}.{{cite web | url=http://www.bdlive.co.za/sport/rugby/2015/03/16/pieter-steph-du-toit-injury-spoils-sharks-victory | title=Pieter Steph du Toit injury spoils Sharks victory | publisher=Business Day | date=16 March 2015 | access-date=23 March 2015}} He made his Super Rugby debut in the Sharks' 27–10 victory, coming on for the final ten minutes of the match.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=135994 | homeid=23244 | awayid=23234 | leagueid=2174 | hometeam=Toyota Cheetahs | homescore=10 | awayscore=27 | awayteam=Cell C Sharks | matchdate=14 March 2015 | date=4 July 2016}}
=South Africa Under-20=
In 2014, he was selected in the South Africa Under-20 squad to play at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship, but an injury ruled him out of the competition and was replaced by Jacques Vermeulen.{{cite web | url=http://sport.iafrica.com/article/940576.html | title=Du Preez blow for Baby Boks | publisher=iafrica.com | date=25 May 2014 | access-date=25 May 2014 | archive-date=27 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215853/http://sport.iafrica.com/article/940576.html | url-status=dead }}
In March 2015, Du Preez was named in an extended South Africa Under-20 training group as part of their preparation for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{SA Rugby Article | id=2925424 | leagueid=2484 | title=SARU names large group for Junior Bok trials | date=25 March 2015 | accessdate=6 December 2016 | url-status=live | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2925424&leagueid=2484 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206134230/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2925424&leagueid=2484 | archivedate=6 December 2016}} He featured for them in a friendly match against a Varsity Cup Dream Team in April 2015.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=142484 | homeid=25434 | awayid=25444 | leagueid=2384 | hometeam=Varsity Cup XV | homescore=24 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=South Africa U/20 | matchdate=21 April 2015 | date=4 July 2016}} In May 2015, he was included in the South Africa Under-20 squad that toured Argentina.{{cite web|url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22316?view=news |title=SARU names Junior Bok squad for Argentine tour |work=South African Rugby Union |date=29 April 2015 |access-date=29 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130080313/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22316?view=news |archive-date=30 January 2016 |df=dmy }} He started both of their tour matches,{{cite web | url=http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 | title=Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 25 a 22 | work=Unión Argentina de Rugby | date=12 May 2015 | access-date=21 May 2015 | language=es | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522172958/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 | archive-date=22 May 2015 | df=dmy-all }}{{cite web | url=http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 | title=Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 39 a 28 | work=Unión Argentina de Rugby | date=16 May 2015 | access-date=21 May 2015 | language=es | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522173733/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 | archive-date=22 May 2015 | df=dmy-all }} scoring a try in the 25–22 victory in the first encounter and was then included in the final squad for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22792?view=news |title=Liebenberg to lead Junior Boks at U20 World Championship in Italy |publisher=South African Rugby Union |date=20 May 2015 |access-date=20 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130032506/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22792?view=news |archive-date=30 January 2016 |df=dmy }}
He played off the bench in the first of their three matches in Pool B of the competition, a 33–5 win against hosts Italy,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144364 | homeid=26544 | awayid=26534 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=Italy U20 | homescore=5 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=2 June 2015 | date=4 July 2016}} started their 40–8 win against Samoa{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144394 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26524 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=40 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=Samoa U20 | matchdate=6 June 2015 | date=4 July 2016}} and again came on as a replacement in their 46–13 win over Australia{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144404 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26514 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=46 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Australia U20 | matchdate=10 June 2015 | date=4 July 2016}} to help South Africa finish top of Pool B to qualify for the semi-finals with the best record pool stage of all the teams in the competition. Du Preez came on in the second half of their semi-final match against England, but could not prevent them losing 20–28 to be eliminated from the competition by England for the second year in succession{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146274 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26494 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=20 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=England U20 | matchdate=15 June 2015 | date=4 July 2016}} and started their third-place play-off match against France, scoring two tries in the match to help South Africa to a 31–18 win to secure third place in the competition.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146324 | homeid=26474 | awayid=26534 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=France U20 | homescore=18 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=20 June 2015 | date=4 July 2016}}
Personal
Du Preez's father Robert is a former Springbok scrum-half that made seven appearances for South Africa between 1992 and 1993.{{cite web | url=http://www.saschoolsports.co.za/rugby/kwazulu-natal/meet-the-du-preez-trio-robert-daniel-and-jean-luc.html | title=Meet the Du Preez Trio: Robert, Daniel and Jean-Luc | work=S.A. School Sports | date=24 May 2011 | access-date=30 April 2014 | archive-date=2 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502001001/http://www.saschoolsports.co.za/rugby/kwazulu-natal/meet-the-du-preez-trio-robert-daniel-and-jean-luc.html | url-status=dead }}
He has an older brother – also called Robert – and a twin brother Jean-Luc. Both of them also represented the South Africa Under-20 side at the IRB Junior World Championship, in 2013 and 2014 respectively.{{SA Rugby Article | id=2411934 | leagueid=2034 | title=Junior Springboks named for JWC 2014 | date=22 April 2014 | accessdate=6 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2411934&fullview=true | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607185606/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2411934&fullview=true | url-status=dead | archivedate=7 June 2016}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sale Sharks squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:du Preez, Dan}}
Category:Rugby union number eights
Category:Rugby union players from Durban
Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players
Category:Sharks (rugby union) players
Category:South Africa international rugby union players
Category:South Africa Under-20 international rugby union players
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Alumni of Kearsney College
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England