Hillegard Muller du Plessis, commonly known as Hillegard du Plessis, was born on 25 June 1999 in Bethlehem, South Africa. He is a professional rugby union player who currently represents the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and the Currie Cup. Du Plessis initially made a name for himself as a rugby sevens player, having been a part of the South Africa Sevens team that achieved significant success.
Du Plessis attended Paarl Gimnasium Primary School after moving to Paarl from Reitz. His talent on the rugby field was evident from a young age, and he represented the Griffons at Under-12 level while in Reitz. In 2012, he represented Western Province at the Under-13 Craven Week tournament, where he played as an inside centre and scored a try in their opening match against the Pumas.
During his high school years at Paarl Gimnasium, Du Plessis continued to excel in rugby. He was initially selected for the Western Province squad for the 2015 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week but had to withdraw due to an injury. He was also part of the South African Rugby Union's High Performance program. In 2016, he represented Western Province at the Under-18 Craven Week tournament, starting all three matches and contributing two tries in their victory over the Sharks.
Du Plessis captained Paarl Gimnasium's first team in 2017 and continued to impress on the rugby field. He participated in the Craven Week tournament, starting all three matches and scoring tries against the Pumas and the Free State Cheetahs. His performances earned him a call-up to the South Africa Schools squad for the Under-19 International Series. Despite some defeats, Du Plessis showcased his skills by scoring two tries in the final match against England.
After completing his schooling, Du Plessis signed a contract with the Sharks and also joined the South African Sevens Academy in Stellenbosch. He had successful outings with the academy team in the 2018 Sudamérica Rugby Sevens, winning both the Punta Del Este Sevens and the Viña del Mar Sevens. Du Plessis received a call-up to the senior Sevens squad for the 2018 USA Sevens, making his debut in the series. He went on to participate in various events, including scoring his first try in Canada and contributing seven tries in Hong Kong. South Africa ultimately won the series title that season.
Du Plessis transitioned back to the fifteen-man format of the game when he was included in the South Africa Under-20 squad for the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in France. Unfortunately, an injury cut his tournament short after scoring a try in their victory over Ireland. He then returned to domestic action with the Sharks in the Under-19 Provincial Championship.
In 2022, Du Plessis represented South Africa in rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where the team secured their second gold medal in the tournament's history.
Throughout his career, Du Plessis has showcased his talent and versatility as a rugby player, and his contributions have been recognized through his achievements at both the sevens and fifteen-man versions of the sport.
KG(26/05/2023)
Career
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Paarl Gimnasium Fullback |
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Natal Sharks Fullback |
2019 - present |
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Sharks Fullback |
2020 - present |
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South Africa U20's Fullback |
2018 - 2022 |
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South Africa 7's Fullback |
2018 - 2024 |
