Jacques du Plessis

{{distinguish|text=Jacques du Plessis, the youngest brother of Springboks Willie, Carel and Michael du Plessis.}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Jacques du Plessis

| image = Jacques du Plessis MHR.JPG

| fullname = Willem Hendrik Jacques du Plessis

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|08|12}}

| birth_place = Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal, Republic of South Africa

| height = {{height|m=2.01}}

| weight = {{convert|119|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}

| occupation =

| school = Ermelo High School, Ermelo

| university = University of Pretoria

| relatives =

| position = Lock / Flanker

| currentclub = {{Rut|Bulls}} / {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| youthyears1 = 2006

| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}

| youthyears2 = 2009–2011

| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Pumas}}

| youthyears3 = 2012–2013

| youthclubs3 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| years1 = 2013–2015

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| apps1 = 32

| points1 = 25

| years2 = 2013–2015

| clubs2 = {{Rut|Bulls}}

| apps2 = 31

| points2 = 10

| years3 = 2015–2021

| clubs3 = {{Rut|Montpellier}}

| apps3 = 105

| points3 = 55

| years4 = 2021–

| clubs4 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| apps4 = 3

| points4 = 0

| years5 = 2021–

| clubs5 = {{Rut|Bulls}}

| apps5 = 4

| points5 = 0

| amatyears1 = 2013

| amatteam1 = {{Rut|UP Tuks}}

| amatapps1 = 3

| amatpoints1 = 0

| repyears1 = 2011

| repteam1 = S.A. Schools

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| repyears2 = 2013

| repteam2 = South Africa Under-20

| repcaps2 = 5

| reppoints2 = 5

| clubupdate = 23 July 2022

| repupdate = 1 April 2015

}}

Willem Hendrik Jacques "Sheep" du Plessis (born 12 August 1993) is a South African rugby union player. He plays for the {{Rut|Bulls}} in the United Rugby Championship and for the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} in the Currie Cup.{{cite web|title=Jacques du Plessis Profile|url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-28011.html|publisher=Itsrugby.co.uk|access-date=21 November 2015}} His regular playing positions are flanker or lock.

Career

=Youth=

After representing the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} in the 2006 Under-13 Craven Week competition, he moved to Ermelo and subsequently represented the {{Rut|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.{{cite web | url=http://www.scoresway.com/?sport=rugby&page=player&id=7347 | title=Scoresway Player Profile Jacques du Plessis | work=Scoresway | access-date=21 June 2013}}

In 2012, he joined the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} and made twelve appearances for them in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship competition.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=40474 | name=Jacques du Plessis | date=29 May 2016}}

=Blue Bulls=

Du Plessis made his senior debut for the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} in 2013, starting in the 110–0 thrashing of the {{Rut|Limpopo Blue Bulls}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=104234 | homeid=11924 | awayid=11754 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls | homescore=0 | awayscore=110 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=20 April 2013 | date=22 July 2016}} He also started the game the following week in an equally impressive 89–10 victory against the {{Rut|Griffons}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=104284 | homeid=11754 | awayid=11654 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=89 | awayscore=10 | awayteam=Down Touch Griffons | matchdate=27 April 2013 | date=22 July 2016}} 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.beeld.com/sport/2013-07-31-bulle-hou-vas-aan-di-jong-turke | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130731202953/http://www.beeld.com/sport/2013-07-31-bulle-hou-vas-aan-di-jong-turke | url-status=dead | archive-date=31 July 2013 | title=Bulle hou vas aan dié jong Turke | publisher=Beeld | work=Media24 | date=31 July 2013 | access-date=31 July 2013 | language=af }}

=Bulls=

In July 2013, Du Plessis was named on the bench for the {{Rut|Bulls}}' Super Rugby match against the {{Rut|Stormers}}{{cite web | url=http://www.supersport.com/rugby/super-rugby/news/130710/Hougi_setback_as_Bulls_name_team | title=Hougi setback as Bulls name team | work=SuperSport | date=10 July 2013 | access-date=11 July 2013 | author=Nel, Brenden}} and came on as a substitute to make his Bulls debut.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=114791 | homeid=15171 | awayid=15161 | leagueid=1491 | hometeam=Stormers | homescore=30 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Bulls | matchdate=13 July 2013 | date=22 July 2016}}

Du Plessis was included in the {{Rut|Bulls}} squad for the 2014 Super Rugby seasonto resign{{cite web|url=http://thebulls.co.za/the-team/vodacom-bulls-team/ |title=Vodacom Bulls team |publisher=Bulls |access-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209015914/http://thebulls.co.za/the-team/vodacom-bulls-team/ |archive-date=9 February 2014 }} and made his Super Rugby start in a 31–16 defeat to the {{Rut|Sharks}} in Durban.{{cite web | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/match-centre/?season=2014&competition=205&match=514012 | title=Match Centre: Sharks v Bulls | publisher=SANZAR | date=15 February 2014 | access-date=15 February 2014}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113684 | homeid=16164 | awayid=16174 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks | homescore=31 | awayscore=16 | awayteam=Vodacom Bulls | matchdate=15 February 2014 | date=22 July 2016}}

=Montpellier=

Shortly before the 2015 Super Rugby season, the {{Rut|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 {{Rut|Montpellier}}.{{cite press release | url=http://thebulls.co.za/news/2015/02/06/players-leaving/ | title=Van der Merwe, Du Plessis off to France | publisher=Bulls | date=6 February 2015 | access-date=6 February 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206222642/http://thebulls.co.za/news/2015/02/06/players-leaving/ | archive-date=6 February 2015 | df=dmy-all }}

=Return to the Bulls=

On 12 April 2021, Du Plessis has left Montpellier early to return to South Africa with the Bulls.{{cite news|url=https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/bulls-boast-enviable-back-row-depth-1/|publisher=SA Rugby Mag|title=Bulls building enviable back-row depth|date=12 April 2021|accessdate=12 April 2021}}

=Representative rugby=

Du Plessis was included the South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship.{{SA Rugby Article | id=1898404 | leagueid=1344 | title=Steenkamp leads powerful SA U20 JWC squad | date=25 April 2013 | access-date=6 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=1898404&fullview=true | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607185428/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=1898404&fullview=true | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 June 2016}}

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.{{SA Rugby Article | id=2449174 | leagueid=1674 | title=Springbok training squad for Durban camp named | date=19 May 2014 | access-date=6 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2449174&leagueid=1674 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607175936/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2449174&leagueid=1674 | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 June 2016}}

=Varsity Cup=

Du Plessis also played some Varsity Cup rugby, representing the {{Rut|UP Tuks}} in the 2013 Varsity Cup competition.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=10644 | team=Tuks | compid=1084 | comp=2013 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International | accessdate=3 June 2016}}

Honours

2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup : winner.{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/36267417|title=European Challenge Cup final: Harlequins 19-26 Montpellier|date=13 May 2016|work=BBC Sport|access-date=16 May 2016}}
Currie Cup winner (2021)