Pieter-Steph du Toit

Pieter Stephanus du Toit (born 20 August 1992) is a South African professional rugby union player and two-time winner of World Rugby Player of the Year (in 2019, 2024). Du Toit plays as a lock or a flanker for the South Africa national team and the Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One. After winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup with South Africa, he was awarded the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year, an award he won for a second time in 2024. He was awarded man of the match in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand. Known for his stamina, tackling ability and high work rate, he is considered to be one of the greatest players of his generation.

Pieter-Steph du Toit

Full name	Pieter Stephanus du Toit
Date of birth	(1992-08-20) 20 August 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Cape Town, South Africa
Height	2.00 m (6 ft 6+1⁄2 in)[1]
Weight	115 kg (254 lb; 18 st 2 lb)[1]
School	Hoërskool Swartland, Malmesbury
Notable relative(s)	Piet du Toit (grandfather), Johan du Toit (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock / Flanker / Number 8 Current team Toyota Verblitz Youth career 2010 Boland Cavaliers 2011–2012 Sharks Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2012–2015 Sharks (Currie Cup) 5 (0) 2012–2015 Sharks 32 (5) 2016–2021 Stormers 59 (20) 2022– Toyota Verblitz 35 (10) Correct as of 30 October 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2012 South Africa Under-20 5 (5) 2013– South Africa 87 (40) Correct as of 30 October 2024
Medal record Men's Rugby union Representing  South Africa Rugby World Cup 2015 England Squad 2019 Japan Squad 2023 France Squad

School and youth career

Du Toit went to primary school at Laerskool Riebeek Kasteel in the small town in the Riebeek Valley. His family farmed on the historical farm Kloovenburg situated in Riebeek Kasteel. Du Toit then went to high school at Hoërskool Swartland where he played mostly in the second row.^[2]

Du Toit was a member of the South Africa Under 20 team that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship.^[3]

Senior career

In July 2013, Du Toit signed a two-year contract extension with the Sharks.^[4] The Sharks announced his departure in October 2015.^[5]

He made his South Africa Test debut versus Wales in Cardiff on 9 November 2013 at age 21.^[6] Du Toit has since become a regular for the Springboks and was a part of the South African team for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Du Toit came off the bench in the quarter-final, when South Africa beat Wales 23–19 at Twickenham Stadium. The following season saw Du Toit become a regular starter for South Africa, under new head coach, Allister Coetzee.

On 2 June 2018, Du Toit became the 60th captain of South Africa, as he led the Springboks out against Wales, losing the match 20–22. Du Toit also took part in the mid-year series against England, which South Africa won.

He moved to the back row from 2019 onwards.^[2]

Du Toit was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.^[7] South Africa won the tournament, defeating England in the final.^[8] He was awarded the World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year in 2019. He was also Player of the Match in the 2023 World Cup final against the All Blacks in the Springboks successful defense of their World Cup title, making an astounding 28 tackles.^[9]

International statistics

Test match record

As of 19 July 2025

Against	P	W	D	L	Tri	Pts	%Won
Argentina	12	9	0	3	4	20	75
Australia	11	6	2	3	2	10	54.55
British & Irish Lions	2	1	0	1	0	0	50
England	8	5	0	3	1	5	62.5
France	7	6	0	1	1	5	85.71
Georgia	2	2	0	0	0	0	100
Ireland	8	3	0	5	2	10	37.5
Italy	4	3	0	1	0	0	75
Japan	3	2	0	1	0	0	66.67
New Zealand	15	6	1	8	0	0	40
Scotland	4	4	0	0	1	5	100
United States	1	1	0	0	0	0	100
Wales	11	6	0	5	1	5	54.55
Total	88	54	3	31	12	60	61.36

Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

Test tries

Try	Opposition	Location	Venue	Competition	Date	Result	Score
1	Ireland	Cape Town, South Africa	Newlands	Test match	11 June 2016	Loss	20–26
2	Ireland	Johannesburg, South Africa	Ellis Park Stadium	Test match	18 June 2016	Win	32–26
3	Argentina	Salta, Argentina	Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena	2016 Rugby Championship	27 August 2016	Loss	26–24
4	Argentina	Port Elizabeth, South Africa	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium	2017 Rugby Championship	19 August 2017	Win	37–15
5	New Zealand	Yokohama, Japan	International Stadium Yokohama	2019 Rugby World Cup	21 September 2019	Loss	23–13
6	Australia	Pretoria, South Africa	Loftus Versfeld Stadium	2023 Rugby Championship	8 July 2023	Win	43–12
7	Wales	Cardiff, Wales	Millennium Stadium	2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches	19 August 2023	Win	52–16
8	Scotland	Marseille, France	Stade Vélodrome	2023 Rugby World Cup	10 September 2023	Win	18–3
9	Australia	Brisbane, Australia	Lang Park	2024 Rugby Championship	10 August 2024	Win	33-7
10	Argentina	Mbombela, South Africa	Mbombela Stadium	2024 Rugby Championship	28 September 2024	Win	48–7
11
12	England	London, England	Twickenham Stadium	2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals	16 November 2024	Win	20–29

Honours

Natal Sharks

• 2013 Currie Cup winner

South Africa

• 2012 IRB Junior World Championship winner
• 2019 Rugby Championship winner
• 2019 Rugby World Cup winner
• 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa winner
• 2023 Rugby World Cup winner
• 2024 Rugby Championship winner

South Africa Rugby Union Awards

• SARU Player of the Year: 2016, 2018 and 2019

World Rugby awards

• World Rugby Player of the Year: 2019, 2024

Personal life

Du Toit, a Christian, is the grandson of former Springbok prop, Piet "Spiere" du Toit and is the older brother of Johan, also a professional rugby player. The two brothers were contracted to the Sharks at the same time (in 2014 and 2015) before reuniting at the Stormers from 2017 onwards.^[10] He is nicknamed the Malmesbury Missile.^[11]

Du Toit is married to Willemien, with whom he has three children.^[12]

See also

• List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 854