The one-year-old son of rugby legend Jenny du Plessis has drowned in the family pool at the South African World Cup winner’s home.
The tragedy happened on the Springbok star’s 39th birthday, two days after the baby’s christening on Sunday, a family friend revealed.
Du Plessis and his wife Ronell have two other children, daughters Rosalie and Hayley, and are believed to have lived on their childhood farm outside Bethlehem in northern South Africa after moving back there from Johannesburg during the pandemic.
The tragedy unfolded in the du Plessis family pool but the circumstances of the drowning have not yet been disclosed.
Former Springbok player Albert ‘Tox’ van der Linde tweeted a photo of du Plessis with his wife Ronell and late son, saying: ‘Please pray for Jenny du Plessis and her family. Her one year old son drowned last night, my heart broke broken. So sad.’
Du Plessis played 70 Test matches for the Springboks until 2015, and was part of South Africa’s World Cup winning side in 2007.
Former player Tox van der Linde announced the news on Twitter with a photo of Jenny du Plessis with his wife Ronell and late son.
Jenny du Plessis was capped 70 times for South Africa and was part of the 2007 World Cup winning team (pictured at left with the trophy)
Rudolf Strawley, partner of the Springboks and CEO of Du Plessis’ current club, The Lions, told Sport24: ‘We, as a Lions family, are not doing well. I can confirm that this tragedy happened. We are all devastated.
He later added: ‘As I’m sure everyone can understand, Janine and her family must now be left alone to process this tragedy.
‘We extend our full support to him and kindly request everyone to keep him in their thoughts and prayers.’
Du Plessis’ former club The Sharks also expressed their ‘deepest condolences to Jenny, Ronell and the entire du Plessis family at the tragic loss of their young son.’
A club spokesman said: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.’
Tendai ‘Beast’ Matawarira, who played with du Plessis in the winning team of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, expressed his grief over the incident, citing a tweet from the Sharks franchise.
He wrote: ‘My heart is broken for the Du Plessis family…’
Meanwhile SA Rugby Legends said: ‘Our heartfelt thoughts, prayers and condolences go out with Jenny and Ronel du Plessis on the tragic loss of their beloved son. We are sad for you.
MyPlayers, the association of all professional rugby players in South Africa, tweeted: ‘There are no words to describe the unbearable pain of a parent at the loss of a child. Jenny and Ronell, our hearts and prayers are with you.
Jenny and Ronel du Plessis have two other children, daughters Rosalie (right) and Hayley (left).
Du Plessis’s family is believed to have lived on their childhood farm outside Bethlehem (pictured) in northern South Africa, after moving back there from Johannesburg during the pandemic.
The Tighthead Prop, a qualified doctor, played in the 2007 World Cup campaign with younger brother Bismarck. Du Plessis moved to Gauteng last year to join Lions after a five-year stint with French club Montpellier.
The Springboks star grew up on a farm outside Bethlehem on a farm called Stirling and has described his life as ‘isolated’ but ‘care-free’.
‘I remember cold winters and moderate summers. Agricultural life has its own charm,’ he said. Mzansi. food for, The family has cattle and sheep and grows sugar beans and corn.
His father, François, played for the local club and encouraged the boys to join the game. ‘If we behaved, we could have gone to them’ [team] Practice sessions on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Du Plessis and his young family returned to Bethlehem Farm during the pandemic and said they ‘played barefoot with the children on the farm, rode horses, and kicked balls.’
Propp has said that he hopes to ‘one day’ be ‘proud of my cattle and farming venture’. ‘Deep in my heart I have always been a farm boy. I can’t wait to start farming full time after my rugby career.
Du Plessis is a qualified doctor and has said in the past that education for his family always preceded rugby. In 2003 he studied medicine at the Free State University in Bloemfontein, despite being turned away from a contract with the Pumas rugby union.
Du Plessis used his medical skills in 2009 when Brumbies player Shaun McKay was hit by a car in Durban.
The Springboks player immobilized McKay and helped him breathe until paramedics arrived, although he died of his injuries several days later.
Du Plessis (pictured playing against England in November 2008) was part of South Africa’s 2007 Rugby World Cup winning team along with younger brother Bismarck.
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