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Frederik Christoffel Hendrik "Frik" du Preez (born 28 November 1935) is a former South African
rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the Comparison of rugby league and rugby union, two codes of ru ...
player who represented
Northern Transvaal Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ...
and the
Springboks The South Africa national rugby union team, commonly known as the Springboks (colloquially the Boks, Bokke or Amabokoboko), is the country's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union. The Springboks play in green and gold jersey ...
. He was born on a farm near
Rustenburg Rustenburg (; , Afrikaans and Dutch: ''City of Rest'') is a city at the foot of the Magaliesberg mountain range. Rustenburg is the most populous city in North West province, South Africa (549,575 in 2011 and 626,522 in the 2016 census). In 2017 ...
and went to school at Parys High School in Parys ( Orange Free State). Du Preez mostly played in the
flank Flank may refer to: * Flank (anatomy), part of the abdomen ** Flank steak, a cut of beef ** Part of the external anatomy of a horse * Flank speed, a nautical term * Flank opening, a chess opening * A term in Australian rules football * The ...
or lock positions. Du Preez made his
test Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ...
debut for the Springboks on 7 January 1961 in the flank position against England at Twickenham. He played his last test on 7 August 1971 at the age of 35 as a lock against Australia at the
Sydney Cricket Ground The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a sports stadium in Sydney, Australia. It is used for Test, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, as well as, Australian rules football and occasionally for rugby league, rugby union and association ...
. Du Preez was an excellent all-round footballer, and like Australian lock
John Eales John Eales AM (born 27 June 1970) is an Australian former rugby union player and the most successful captain in the history of Australian rugby. In 1999, he became one of the first players to win multiple Rugby World Cups. Early life Eales ...
, he was that rare phenomenon: a lock that could kick and even drop kick. Although he was not particularly tall, he was a tower of strength in the line-out. In addition he had a fantastic turn of speed and fine running skills with ball in hand, as he showed in the try he scored against the British Lions in 1968. As an expression of the esteem that he is held in by South African rugby fans, Du Preez was named the country's rugby player of the 20th century.


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* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:du Preez, Frik 1935 births Living people People from Rustenburg South African rugby union players South Africa international rugby union players Rugby union flankers Rugby union locks World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees Afrikaner people Rugby union players from North West (South African province) Blue Bulls players