Fourie du Preez
du Preez playing in 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Petrus Fourie du Preez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 24 March 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | 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. He played as a scrum half for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup competition and the Bulls in Super Rugby between 2002 and 2011, and for Japanese Top League side Suntory Sungoliath between 2011 and 2016. He represented South Africa between 2004 and 2015, winning 76 caps, playing in three Rugby World Cup tournaments, and winning the 2007 competition.
Du Preez made his provincial debut during 2001 for the Blue Bulls in a match against the Leopards in the Currie Cup competition. In 2003 he made his Super 12 debut for the Bulls, against the ACT Brumbies. The following year he made his test match debut for South Africa (the Springboks) against Ireland.
Du Preez has won the IRB u/21 World Cup in 2002, the Currie Cup three times (2003, 2004 and 2009, won the Super 14 title in 2007, 2009 and 2010, the Tri-Nations in 2004 and 2009 and the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
In 2006, Du Preez was voted SA Rugby Player of the year by the South African Rugby Football Union, and was nominated for IRB player of the year. In 2009, Du Preez was voted SA Rugby Player of the year by the South African Rugby Football Union for a second time.