JP du Plessis

Early years

Du Plessis grew up playing rugby union in South Africa starting his career as school pupil at Reitz High School in Reitz and later moving to Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch. He was selected to represent Western Province at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week tournament in 2007 and represented them at the premier high school rugby union competition in South Africa, the Under-18 Craven Week, in 2009. After that event, he was also named in the 2009 South African Schools squad. He played off the bench in their 86–3 against Italy and scored South Africa's only try in their 13–45 defeat to England three days later.

Rugby league

He was then one of two South African youngsters that moved to Australia to join rugby league side the Sydney Roosters, the other being Brian Skosana. He never played for the first team, but did represent their Under-20 side in the 2010 Toyota Cup.

Melbourne Rebels

In 2010, Du Plessis reverted to rugby union, signing with the Rebels Super Rugby side for their inaugural season in Super Rugby in 2011. He made a single Super Rugby appearance for the Rebels, coming on as a late replacement in their match against the Hurricanes.

Western Province / Stormers

Du Plessis returned to South Africa in 2011 to sign for the Cape Town-based Western Province. He made seven appearances for the Western Province U21 side during the 2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring five tries which included four in their 38–42 loss to the Golden Lions U21s in Johannesburg.

He was included in the Stormers' 2012 Super Rugby squad. He made two appearances for them off the bench, a 23–13 victory over the Reds in Brisbane and a 17–3 victory over the Force in Perth a week later. He also made seven appearances for Western Province in the 2012 Vodacom Cup and scored a try against the Eastern Province Kings.

Still eligible for play at Under-21 level, he played for the Western Province U21 side during the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship and scored one try in their match against the Leopards U21. He was then called up to their Currie Cup side and made nine appearances for them during the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division. He scored tries in their matches against Griquas and the Blue Bulls to help them finish in third spot on the log to qualify for the semi-finals. However, he didn't feature in the semi-final or the final (which Western Province won by beating the Sharks 25–18) instead reverting to the Under-21 side; he played in both their 19–18 semi-final win against the Sharks U21 and their 13–22 defeat to the Blue Bulls U21 in the final.

Montpellier

He didn't feature for the Stormers in the 2013 Super Rugby season and opted to move to France to join Top 14 side Montpellier prior to the 2013–14 Top 14 season. However, he failed to break into the first team at Montpellier due to suffering a knee injury and featured in just one match for them, coming on as a late replacement in a 25–18 victory over Grenoble.

Free State Cheetahs

He returned from France after just one season to join the Free State Cheetahs prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division. He made five starts and five appearances off the bench for the Bloemfontein-based side, scoring a try in their match against the Pumas as the Free State Cheetahs finished in fifth spot to miss out on the play-offs.

He wasn't named in the Cheetahs Super Rugby squad for the 2015 Super Rugby season, instead playing in four matches for the Free State XV side that played in the 2015 Vodacom Cup competition.

Eastern Province Kings

Du Plessis was named in the Griquas squad for the 2015 Currie Cup qualification tournament, but didn't feature for them at all, instead joining Port Elizabeth-based side Eastern Province Kings prior to the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division season.