Have you heard about Beyoncé? No, not that one. The rugby player from Elsies River who was chosen to represent the Junior Springbok Women’s u-20 rugby team.
Beyoncé du Plessis did not just play for the Green and Gold, she also led the team in a recent match against Zimbabwe.
But rugby was not always her first love. “I started playing in 2017 for Elsies River High School, but it was never my favourite sport because I did not like getting hurt. I did not take rugby seriously and never even owned a pair of rugby boots.
“The year 2018 was not a good year for me because our house burnt down and I did not want to play anymore. I eventually went back and started training for 7s rugby. I played as a prop forward and did not like it, but I pushed through.”
One of her coaches decided to take her to Western Province trials. “I was nervous because I did not know what to expect,” said Du Plessis. “I just knew I would be playing with girls from different schools, which made me more nervous, and I started thinking ‘what if i drop the ball or if I don’t tackle the way i always do, or what if they are much bigger than I am?’.
The trials went well, but when they called out the names mine was not called. I cried, but a coach said come back next year for the 15s trials.”
After playing some club rugby Du Plessis went for senior trials at Western Province. “I was told not to train with the seniors, because ‘jy gaan heeltyd op die bank sit’. I just kept going and kept on training. Everything was worth it.”
Du Plessis plans on studying next year and working harder on her game, and eventually become a senior Springbok.
