Fourie du Preez
du Preez playing in 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Petrus Fourie du Preez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 24 March 1982 Pretoria, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (201 lb; 14 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Pretoria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Petrus Fourie du Preez (Afrikaans pronunciation: [fuˈri du ˈpri.ə]; born 24 March 1982) is a South African former professional rugby union player who played as a scrum-half for the Bulls between 2001 and 2011, and for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan from 2011 to 2016. He represented South Africa from 2004 to 2015, earning 76 caps and scoring 16 tries. Du Preez played in three Rugby World Cup tournaments and was a central figure in South Africa’s victory at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Du Preez enjoyed a decorated career, winning the World Rugby Under 21 Championship in 2002, three Currie Cup titles (2003, 2004, 2009), three Super Rugby titles (2007, 2009, 2010), and two Tri Nations championships (2004, 2009). He was named SA Rugby Player of the Year twice, in 2006 and 2009, and received a nomination for IRB Player of the Year in 2006.
Considered one of the greatest scrum-halves of the professional era, Du Preez is widely praised for his tactical mastery, kicking precision and game management, and is frequently cited by players, coaches and analysts as one of the finest Springboks of all time.