JP du Plessis

Phillipus Jacobus Snyman 'JP' du Plessis (born 29 April 1991, in Kroonstad) is a South African rugby union player who players centre for San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR).[1][2][3]

Not to be confused with Jean-Pierre 'JP' du Plessis (born 1992), who played as a centre for the Golden Lions in 2012 and 2013 and for the Limpopo Blue Bulls in 2015.
Also not to be confused with Jean-Pierre du Plessis (born 1989), who played as a centre for UP Tuks in 2011 and 2012 and for the Blue Bulls in the 2012 Vodacom Cup.

JP du Plessis
Full namePhillipus Jacobus Snyman du Plessis
Date of birth (1991-04-29) 29 April 1991
Place of birthKroonstad, South Africa
Height1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight89 kg (196 lb; 14 st 0 lb)
SchoolPaul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch
Notable relative(s)Muller du Plessis
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Current team San Diego Legion
Youth career
2007–2009 Western Province
2009–2010 Sydney Roosters (rugby league)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 Rebels 1 (0)
2012 Western Province 16 (15)
2012 Stormers 2 (0)
2013–2014 Montpellier 1 (0)
2014–2015 Free State Cheetahs 10 (5)
2015 Free State XV 4 (5)
2015–2016 Eastern Province Kings 15 (7)
2016 Southern Kings 8 (5)
2018–present San Diego Legion 4 (0)
Correct as of 14 May 2018
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 South Africa Schools
Correct as of 20 May 2015

He previously played rugby league for the Sydney Roosters and rugby union for Super Rugby sides the Melbourne Rebels and the Stormers, as well as South African Currie Cup sides Western Province and Free State Cheetahs and French Top 14 side Montpellier.

Early years

Du Plessis grew up playing rugby union in South Africa starting his career as school pupil at Reitz High School in Reitz and later moving to Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch. He was selected to represent Western Province at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week tournament in 2007 and represented them at the premier high school rugby union competition in South Africa, the Under-18 Craven Week, in 2009. After that event, he was also named in the 2009 South African Schools squad. He played off the bench in their 86–3 against Italy[4] and scored South Africa's only try in their 13–45 defeat by England three days later.[5]

Rugby league

He was then one of two South African youngsters that moved to Australia to join rugby league side the Sydney Roosters, the other being Brian Skosana.[6][7] He never played for the first team, but did represent their Under-20 side in the 2010 Toyota Cup.

Rugby union

Melbourne Rebels

In 2010, Du Plessis reverted to rugby union, signing with the Rebels Super Rugby side for their inaugural season in Super Rugby in 2011.[8][9] He made a single Super Rugby appearance for the Rebels, coming on as a late replacement in their match against the Hurricanes.[10]

Western Province / Stormers

Du Plessis returned to South Africa in 2011 to sign for the Cape Town-based Western Province. He made seven appearances for the Western Province U21 side during the 2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring five tries which included four in their 38–42 loss to the Golden Lions U21s in Johannesburg.[11]

He was included in the Stormers' 2012 Super Rugby squad. He made two appearances for them off the bench, a 23–13 victory over the Reds in Brisbane[12] and a 17–3 victory over the Force in Perth a week later.[13] He also made seven appearances for Western Province in the 2012 Vodacom Cup and scored a try against the Eastern Province Kings.[14]

Still eligible for play at Under-21 level, he played for the Western Province U21 side during the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship and scored one try in their match against the Leopards U21.[15] He was then called up to their Currie Cup side and made nine appearances for them during the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division. He scored tries in their matches against Griquas[16] and the Blue Bulls to help them finish in third spot on the log to qualify for the semi-finals. However, he didn't feature in the semi-final or the final (which Western Province won by beating the Sharks 25–18)[17] instead reverting to the Under-21 side; he played in both their 19–18 semi-final victory over the Sharks U21[18] and their 13–22 defeat by the Blue Bulls U21 in the final.[19]

Montpellier
Du Plessis with Wandile Mjekevu

He didn't feature for the Stormers in the 2013 Super Rugby season and opted to move to France to join Top 14 side Montpellier prior to the 2013–14 Top 14 season.[20] However, he failed to break into the first team at Montpellier due to suffering a knee injury and featured in just one match for them, coming on as a late replacement in a 25–18 victory over Grenoble.[21]

Free State Cheetahs

He returned from France after just one season to join the Free State Cheetahs prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division.[22] He made five starts and five appearances off the bench for the Bloemfontein-based side, scoring a try in their match against the Pumas[23] as the Free State Cheetahs finished in fifth spot to miss out on the play-offs.

He wasn't named in the Cheetahs Super Rugby squad for the 2015 Super Rugby season,[24] instead playing in four matches for the Free State XV side that played in the 2015 Vodacom Cup competition.

Eastern Province Kings

Du Plessis was named in the Griquas squad for the 2015 Currie Cup qualification tournament,[25] but didn't feature for them at all, instead joining Port Elizabeth-based side Eastern Province Kings prior to the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division season.[26]

References
  1. "JP du Plessis Profile". Melbourne Rebels. Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  2. "SA Rugby Player Profile – JP du Plessis". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  3. "It's Rugby Player Profile JP du Plessis". It's Rugby. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – SA Schools U18 86-3 Italy Schools U18". South African Rugby Union. 4 August 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – SA Schools U18 13-45 England Schools U18". South African Rugby Union. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  6. "Roosters sign South African junior rugby star". Sydney Roosters. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  7. Massoud, Josh; Phelps, James (18 March 2010). "Melbourne Storm, Sydney Roosters collide on African poaching mission". Daily Telegraph. News Limited. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  8. "Du Plessis signs with Rebels". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  9. Katz, Doron (13 August 2010). "Rebels Sign Junior South African". SA Rugby. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Melbourne Rebels 42-25 Hurricanes". South African Rugby Union. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Lions 42-38 Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  12. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Reds 13-23 DHL Stormers". South African Rugby Union. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  13. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Force 3-17 DHL Stormers". South African Rugby Union. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  14. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 30-25 Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  15. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Platinum Leopards 20-31 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  16. "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 20-25 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  17. "SA Rugby Match Centre – The Sharks 18-25 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  18. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks 18-19 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  19. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 13-22 Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  20. "Les recrues 2013/2014 dévoilées!". Montpellier (in French). 29 May 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  21. "02/11/13 - Montpellier - Grenoble". Ligue Nationale de Rugby. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  22. "Cheetahs sign Du Plessis". SuperSport. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  23. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State Cheetahs 17-31 Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  24. "2015 Toyota Cheetah Group". Cheetahs. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  25. "SA Rugby Squad – ORC Griquas : 2015 Absa Currie Cup Qualifying". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  26. "EP sign two new players – and bid farewell to Van der Linde". The Herald. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
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