Felix du Plessis
| Full name | Felix du Plessis | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 November 1919 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Steynsburg, South Africa | ||||||||||||
| Date of death | 1 May 1978 (aged 58) | ||||||||||||
| Place of death | Stilfontein | ||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||
| Playing career | |||||||||||||
| Position | Lock | ||||||||||||
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| Amateur clubs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Club / team | ||
| National team(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1949 |
 South Africa
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3 | |
Felix du Plessis was a former South African rugby union player and captain of the Springbok team that in 1949 beat the All Blacks thrice in succession, a feat that was not repeated by a South African side until 2009. Du Plessis's son, Morné, also captained the Springboks, the only father-son duo to have done so.
Du Plessis was born on 24 November 1919 in Steynsburg, in the Free State. 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.
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. He enlisted voluntarily during World War II.
Felix made his debut on 16 July 1949 for South Africa as a lock in the first test match at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town against the touring All Blacks, led by Fred Allen. He was the first ever Wanderers player to become Springbok captain. Supported by vice-captain Cecil Moss, Du Plessis' team – which included Springbok greats Tjol Lategan, Hannes Brewis, Okey Geffin, and Hennie Muller – swept the series 3 – 0. Six weeks after the last test, Morné was born.
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 Port Elizabeth. He was replaced by Basil Kenyon, possibly because the player-coach's Border team had emerged unbeaten from two encounters with the New Zealanders, with a 9–0 win and a 6–6 draw. Unlike Du Plessis, Kenyon would only receive this one cap.
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