Carel du Plessis
Full names: Carel Johan
Date of birth: 24 Jun 1960
Place of birth: Somerset East
Schools: Paarl Boys High Gill College
Springbok no: 523
Springbok debut province: Western Province
Physical: 1.84m, 85.0kg
Current age: 64
Test summary: Tests: 12 Tries: 4
First Test: 27 Mar 1982 Age 21 - Left Wing against South America at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Last Test: 2 Sep 1989 Age 29 - Left Wing against World Invitation at Ellispark, Johannesburg
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
27 Mar 1982 21Left Wing South America Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 50-181 try WP
03 Apr 1982 21Left Wing South America Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Lose: 12-21  WP
02 Jun 1984 23Left Wing England Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Win: 33-151 try WP
09 Jun 1984 23Left Wing England Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 35-9  WP
20 Oct 1984 24Left Wing South America Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 32-15  WP
27 Oct 1984 24Left Wing South America Newlands, Cape Town Win: 22-131 try WP
10 May 1986 25Left Wing NZ Cavaliers Newlands, Cape Town Win: 21-151 try WP
17 May 1986 25Left Wing NZ Cavaliers Kingspark, Durban Lose: 18-19  WP
24 May 1986 25Left Wing NZ Cavaliers Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 33-18  WP
31 May 1986 25Left Wing NZ Cavaliers Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 24-10  WP
26 Aug 1989 29Left Wing World Invitation Newlands, Cape Town Win: 20-19  WP
02 Sep 1989 29Left Wing World Invitation Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 22-16  WP

Like all true artists, Carel has a temperament which he sometimes has difficulty in controlling. His rugby started at Paarl Boys High and in the late 1970's he played in Craven Week as a stand-off half.

It so happened that when he came to Stellenbosch he played at centre. We only found out after we had selected him at centre that he actually preferred the wing position. There was a bit of a squabble about all this and we subsequently dropped him altogether.

Later when we felt he had had his punishment we selected him on the wing and he was soon in the Western Province team.

Absolute brilliance was his once he felt happy in his position. He never looked back. He was right and I was wrong. He has gone on to score some of the greatest tries ever from the wing position and has represented his country with courage and distinction.