Bismarck du Plessis

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Bismarck du Plessis


caption = Bismarck du Plessis
birthname =
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|5|22
placeofbirth = Bethlehem, Free State, South Africa
height = height|m=1.89
weight = convert|112|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = Hooker|capital=yes
ru_province = Natal Sharks
ru_provinceyears =
ru_provincecaps =
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate =
ru_nationalteam = South Africa
ru_nationalyears = 2007-
ru_nationalcaps = 30
ru_nationalpoints = 25
ru_ntupdate = 29 November, 2006
super14 = Sharks
super14years = 2005-
super14caps =
super14points =
ru_currentclub =
super14update = 2007-09-14
other = yes
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives = Jannie du Plessis (brother)
occupation = Professional Rugby Union Player
school = Grey College
university =

Bismarck du Plessis (born 22 May 1984) is a South African rugby union player, who plays for South Africa and for the Natal Sharks.

A native of the town of Bethlehem in the Free State province, Bismarck du Plessis made his debut for the Sharks in the Super 14 (then the Super 12) in 2005. As he plays Hooker and plays in the same team as South Africa's captain John Smit, he is mainly backup to Smit. Despite this he has played in the Super 14 and Currie Cup whenever Smit is unavailable, and in 2007 was selected to play for South Africa in the Tri Nations Series. He made his debut for South Africa against Australia in Sydney. Significantly, he debuted as a substitute in the same match that his older brother Jannie, who was in the starting XV for the match, made his Boks debut.cite web|url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3824_2649068,00.html |title=Sharks swoop for Du Plessis Snr |publisher="Planet-Rugby.com" |date=2007-08-08 |accessdate=2007-10-01] This made the du Plessis brothers the 23rd set of brothers to earn Springboks caps.cite web|url=http://sport.iafrica.com/rugby/trinations/news/996548.htm |title=Bonus for Du Plessis brothers |publisher="iAfrica.com" |accessdate=2007-10-01]

Following an illness to Pierre Spies, Bismarck was brought into South Africa's squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Jannie would later join him on the World Cup squad, being called up to replace BJ Botha, who blew out a knee in the Boks' final pool match against the USA. [cite web|url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_2772856,00.html |title=Planes, Trains and Bloem babies |first=Jan |last=de Koning |publisher="Planet-Rugby.com" |date=2007-10-01 |accessdate=2007-10-01]

Bismarck's versatality has put him in serious contention as the first choice hooker for the Springboks. Even though John Smit retains the captaincy role for the boks, Bismarck's ability to run faster, drive harder, and handle the ball superbly, have made him a fan favorite and his youth could be key in building him into one of the greatest hookers to ever play the game.

Notes and references

However in the second game of the 2008 Tri Nations tournament against New Zealand du Plessis was suspended for 3 weeks for eye gouging. The Springboks have always been known for pushing the boundaries of rough play, and for years Springbok officials have stated they are at pains to stamp it out. du Plessis showed his inexperience when he deliberatly flouted the law, he has a lot to do to prove he has the maturity needed to become a permanent fixture of the Springbok team.

External links

*cite web|url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?Id=13889&des=content |title=Bismarck du Plessis |accessdate=2007-09-14 |publisher=sharksrugby.co.za
*cite web|url=http://www.sarugby.com/news/Player/pid=321.html |title=Bismarck du Plessis |accessdate=2007-09-14 |publisher=sarugby.com
*cite web|url=http://www.statrugby.com/NewsArticle.aspx?na=76 |title= Tri Nations Head to Head - Keven Mealamu v Bismarck du Plessis |accessdate=2007-09-14 |publisher=statrugby.com |last=Cadden |first=Phil
*cite web|url=http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=8078 |title=Mr Bismarck DU PLESSIS |accessdate=2007-09-14 |publisher=whoswhosa.co.za
*cite news|title=Du Plessis replaces injured Spies |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6923349.stm |accessdate=2007-09-14 |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=2007-07-31 Persondata
NAME=Bismarck du Plessis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=South African rugby union footballer.
DATE OF BIRTH=22 May 1984
PLACE OF BIRTH=Bethlehem, Free State, South Africa
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=