Bismarck puts family first

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 27: Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis during the South African National rugby team photo and press conference at Southern Sun Cullinan Hotel on September 27, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/Gallo Images)

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 27: Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis during the South African National rugby team photo and press conference at Southern Sun Cullinan Hotel on September 27, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/Gallo Images)

Published Nov 28, 2013

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Durban – Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis has told French reporters that he has turned down lucrative offers from French clubs largely because he wants to stay in close proximity to his ailing father.

Bismarck and his brother Jannie have long been the targets of French clubs but have continually chosen to remain in South Africa.

Their father is seriously ill with Parkinson’s Disease, a condition he has had for a number of years.

The brothers have been long-standing servants of the Sharks and away from rugby spend as much time as they can at the family farm near Bethlehem, about a four-hour drive from Durban.

Bismarck has just completed the Springboks’ tour of Europe and is in London with the Barbarians team who are preparing for a match against Fiji on Saturday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Fiji Rugby Union.

He told Midi-Olympique newspaper that he had been flattered by handsome offers from wealthy club Toulon, but that he wanted to stay in Durban to be near his father.

The 29-year-old hooker is among a number of South Africans in a BaaBaas team that will be captained by Jean de Villiers at centre.

Patrick Lambie is at flyhalf, Schalk Burger on the flank and Beast Mtawarira at loosehead prop.

Willie le Roux and Coenie Oosthuizen are on the bench.

The Mercury

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