Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has moved swiftly to alleviate a pending backline crisis. Regular fullback Hennie Daniller has a suspected hand fracture that could rule him out for the Currie Cup season. The Volksblad reported that Naka has signed the Varsity Cup champions, Tukkies, pivot Willie du Plessis, who can play flyhalf, centre and fullback.

To further compound the coach’s woes, is the fact that Riaan Smit has also injured a tendon where the hamstring attaches to the bone, leaving him in a perilous position, should either of Daniller or Smit be unavailable.

The versatile Tuks player also represented the SA Students team with distinction. He was also instrumental in Tukkies winning the Carlton Cup. He can add great value to a depleted Cheetahs backline.

Willem Nicolaas Frederik (Willie) du Plessis:

Height: 183 cm
Weight: 91 kg’s

Born in Pretoria on the 5th June 1990, du Plessis matriculated at the renowned Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Pretoria, He then furthered his tertiary education at the University of Pretoria. Willie has already scored 352 points  (13 tries, 109 Conversions, 21 penalties and 2 drop goals) for the Bulls, and is a points scoring machine of note.

2008 – Blue Bulls (u/18 Academy Team).
2009 – Sharks (ABSA u/19 Competition).
2010 – Sharks (ABSA u/21 Competition).
2011 – Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (ABSA u/21 Competition), Blue Bulls  (ABSA u/21 Competition).
2012 – Tuks (Varsity Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup, ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
2013 – FNB Tuks 1 (Varsity Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup, ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).