Carel du Plessis

Carel Johan du Plessis (born 24 June 1960) is a former South African rugby union coach and player.

Playing career

Du Plessis played for Western Province and the Springboks, his skills earning him the nickname the Prince of Wings. He is ranked among the best Springbok wings of all-time, although he was only capped 12 times, scoring 4 tries, with his international career curtailed by the sports boycott against apartheid South Africa.

Test history

No. Opposition Result (SA 1st) Position Tries Date Venue 1. South American Jaguars 50–18 Wing 1 27 March 1982 Loftus Versveld, Pretoria 2. South American Jaguars 12–21 Wing 3 April 1982 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 3. England 33–15 Wing 1 2 June 1984 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth 4. England 35–9 Wing 9 June 1984 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 5. South American Jaguars 32–15 Wing 20 October 1984 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 6. South American Jaguars 21–13 Wing 1 27 October 1984 Newlands, Cape Town 7. New Zealand Cavaliers 21–15 Wing 1 10 May 1986 Newlands, Cape Town 8. New Zealand Cavaliers 18–19 Wing 17 May 1986 Kings Park, Durban 9. New Zealand Cavaliers 33–18 Wing 24 May 1986 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 10. New Zealand Cavaliers 24–10 Wing 31 May 1986 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 11. World XV 20–19 Wing 26 Aug 1989 Newlands, Cape Town 12. World XV 22–16 Wing 2 Sep 1989 Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Coaching career

In late February 1997, du Plessis was appointed coach of the Springboks, succeeding Andre Markgraaff, despite a lack of coaching experience. He led the team to defeat in both the British and Irish Lions' 1997 tour and the 1997 Tri-Nations, before being sacked and replaced by Nick Mallett, his last game as coach being a 61–22 win over Australia. He was subsequently an assistant coach for Western Province and the Stormers, with Gert Smal.