Robert was a tall, physically dominant scrumhalf - not quite the man at the base of the scrum you would expect - in a time when the halfback was habitually the smallest man on the field who saw himself as simply a distributor. Where most scrummies stood well clear of the possibility of collision and confrontation with opposing forwards, du Preez thrived on it.

Coming out of HTS Potch (Potchefstroom Technical High School) in the early 80's, he provided a pass with power and accuracy that other scrumhalves could only aspire to. His presence lifted pressure from the shoulders of some of South Africa's most influential flyhalfs; Naas Botha at Northern Transvaal (now the Bulls) and Joel Stransky at Natal. He played seven tests for the Springboks in 1992 and 1993 and was involved in the establishment of the incredibly successful Red Group (Mr Price), and is now the founder of the East Coast Tens Rugby Festival!