Carel Johan du Plessis (born 24 June 1960)^[1] is a former South African rugby union coach and player.

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Carel du Plessis

Birth name	Carel Johan du Plessis
Date of birth	(1960-06-24) 24 June 1960 (age 63)
Place of birth	Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	85 kg (187 lb)
School	Paarl Boys High
University	Stellenbosch University
Children	Jean-Luc du Plessis
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Centre Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1980–1986, 1988–1989 1987 Western Province Transvaal () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1982–1989  South Africa 12 (16) [4t] Coaching career Years Team 1997  South Africa

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Du Plessis played for Western Province and the Springboks, his skills earning him the nickname the Prince of Wings.^[2] Capped 12 times, he scored 4 tries for the Springboks, but his international career was curtailed by the sports boycott against apartheid South Africa.^[3]

In late February 1997, du Plessis was appointed coach of the Springboks, succeeding Andre Markgraaff, despite a lack of coaching experience.^[4][5] He led the team to defeat in both the British and Irish Lions' 1997 tour and the 1997 Tri-Nations, before being sacked and replaced by Nick Mallett, his last game as coach being a 61–22 win over Australia.^[6] He was subsequently an assistant coach for Western Province and the Stormers, with Gert Smal.^[2]

Du Plessis is the brother of Michael du Plessis and Willie du Plessis, both former Springboks, father of Jean-Luc du Plessis, who plays for the Stormers, and uncle of Daniël du Plessis, a former South Africa U20 player.^[2]

He has undergone three major surgeries after a brain tumour was discovered in January 2019.^[2][7]

• List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 523