Felix du Plessis
Birth name | Felix du Plessis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 24 November 1919 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Morne du Plessis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Felix du Plessis (24 November 1919 – 1 May 1978) was a South African
Early life and career
Du Plessis was born on 24 November 1919 in Steynsburg, in the Eastern Cape. He was the nephew of Nic du Plessis, a Springbok who toured to New Zealand in 1921 and gained 5 caps over a three-year career.[3][4]
As a 19-year-old Felix Du Plessis was selected for the first Northern Transvaal team ever, when that union was formed in 1938. His teammate and captain was Danie Craven.[3] He enlisted voluntarily during World War II.[5]
International career
Felix made his debut on 16 July 1949 for South Africa as a
Despite his three successive test victories as captain, Du Plessis was left out of the team that faced the All Blacks in the 4th test at
International caps
No. | Opposition | Result (SA 1st) | Position | Tries | Date | Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | New Zealand | 15–11 | Lock | 16 July 1949 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | |
2. | New Zealand | 12–6 | Lock | 13 August 1949 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | |
3. | New Zealand | 9–3 | Lock | 3 September 1949 | Kingsmead, Durban |
Personal life
Du Plessis married Pat Smethurst, who in 1954 captained the South African women's hockey team. Their son Morné is the only Springbok captain born to parents who both captained national sports sides.[2][13][14] The Du Plessis couple supported the more liberal opposition United Party instead of the National Party, which had come to power in 1948 and would enforce apartheid for the next 42 years.[5]
Felix worked as a representative for
See also
- List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 275
- Morné du Plessis
- 1949 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa
References
- ^ Morgan, Brad (14 September 2009). "Springboks win 2009 Tri-Nations". SouthAfrica.info. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Morné du Plessis". Who's Who Southern Africa. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ a b c "Wanderers never been short of quality locks". The Citizen. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ^ "Nic du Plessis". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-594-20174-5.
- ^ Felix' grandson, Luc du Plessis, was playing eighthman for the Wanderers in 2012. Hannes Strydom, who played in the 1995 World Rugby Cup final, is another well-known lock from the same club.The Citizen, 3 August 2012 Archived 21 April 2013 at archive.today.
- ^ "Famous SACS Players 1891 – 1945". Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ^ "Morné du Plessis". SA Sports & Arts Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "Introduction '56". The McLook Rugby Collection. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ^ "All Blacks 1949 Tour Factbox". 22 July 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ^ "First three tour matches. All Blacks 28 – Border 3". The McLook Rugby Collection. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ^ "Basil Kenyon". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ^ Van der Watt, Frans (7 January 2005). "Vanjaar dalk grote vir Grace Yazbek". Volksblad. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ Retief, Dan (20 October 2009). "Your captain is a great guy…". SuperSport. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "Felix du Plessis". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Felix du Plessis". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.