The life story of Pieter-Steph du Toit, the talented rugby player

The life story of Pieter-Steph du Toit, the talented rugby player

Ciku Njuguna
February 24, 2024 at 12:08 PM

Pieter-Steph du Toit is a professional rugby union player for the South African Rugby Union and Japan’s Rugby League One. In 2020, he overcame a career-ending medical emergency to win his second World Cup, stamping his hero status. Discover every detail of the Springbok player's personal and professional life.

Pieter-Steph du Toit of South Africa's Springboks.
Pieter-Steph du Toit is a professional rugby union player for the South African Rugby Union and Japan’s Rugby League One. Photo by Matt Roberts/David Ramos/World Rugby.
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

Described as the equivalent of a Malmesbury Missile, he is a world-class defensive player who managed 28 tackles in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final match. This article explores the life of the South African athlete, from his childhood to his career achievements. Scroll down to discover everything from Pieter-Steph du Toit’s height and weight to his salary and net worth.

Pieter-Steph du Toit’s profile summary

Full name

Pieter Stephanus du Toit VII

Nickname

Malmesbury Missile, PSTD

Date of birth

20 August 1992

Age

31 years old as of February 2024

Place of birth

Riebeek-Kasteel, Cape Town, South Africa

Nationality

South African

Height

200 cm (6'6")

Weight

116 kg (255.7 lbs)

Parents

Pieter and Annalene du Toit

Sibling

3

Relationship status

Married

Spouse

Willemien Du Toit

Children

2

Education

Hoërskool Swartland

University of Stellenbosch

Profession

Professional rugby player

Test debut

November 2013

Positions

Lock, flanker

Teams

Sharks, Stormers, Toyota Verblitz, Springboks

Active years

2013 - present

Net worth

$3 million - $5 million

Social media pages

Instagram

How old is Pieter Steph?

Born on the 20th of August 1992, Pieter-Steph du Toit's age is 31 years as of February 2024. Based on his age, his zodiac sign is Leo.

Bio facts about Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Men's 15's Player of the Year winner Pieter-Steph Du Toit poses during the World Rugby Awards on November 03, 2019, in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Dan Mullan/World Rugby.
Source: Original

How tall is Pieter-Steph du Toit?

How big is Pieter-Steph du Toit? According to his official SA Rugby profile, the defence master is six feet and 6 inches tall (200 centimetres). Additionally, his weight is recorded at 255.7 lbs (166 kilograms).

Pieter-Steph du Toit’s brief biography

The flanker was born and raised at the Du Toit family farm, the Kloovenburg, in Cape Town, South Africa, to Pieter and Annalene du Toit. Rugby is a family legacy for the du Toit family as his grandfather, Piet Stephanus ‘Spiere’ du Toit V, was a Springbok prop who received 14 test caps between 1958 and 1961.

Who are Pieter-Steph du Toit's brothers?

Growing up, Pietr and his brothers, Johannes Willem, Anton Pierre, and Daniël Bruwer du Toit, participated in athletics, rugby, and hockey. His younger brother, Johan du Toit, is the number 8 flanker who played for the Stormers and Western Province.

South Africa's Pieter-Steph Du Toit (l) in action
South Africa's Pieter-Steph Du Toit (l) in action against Wales during the RWC semi-final match on October 27, 2019, in Kanagawa, Japan. Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media.
Source: Getty Images

Pieter-Steph du Toit’s family

The Pieter-Steph du Toit name has been passed down eight generations. Here is a summary of Malmesbury Missile's young family.

Is Pieter-Steph du Toit married?

The flanker is married to Willemien Du Toit. The couple met in grade 8 at Hoërskool Swartland. The childhood sweethearts later fell in love and got married in Bakenhof Estate on November 28, 2015.

Who is Pieter-Steph du Toit’s wife?

Like her husband, Willemien attended Hoërskool Swartland, where she graduated in 2009. She later enrolled at the University of Stellenbosch, where she studied physiotherapy.

Does Pieter-Steph du Toit have kids?

At the time of writing, the couple's son, Pieter-Steph du Toit VIII, was born on the 3rd of April 2019. On the 4th of May 2022, the couple got their second-born child, Christi.

Pieter-Steph Du Toit poses with his family.
South Africa's Pieter-Steph Du Toit poses with his wife and children following the RWC final match against New Zealand at Stade de France on October 28, 2023. Photo by Dan Mullan.
Source: Getty Images

Where did Steph du Toit go to school?

Unlike many Springbok players, the flanker did not attend a rugby school. He attended Hoërskool Swartland and later joined the University of Stellenbosch, where he was noticed by Doc Craven, a Springbok legend marking the start of his international career.

Career

What clubs has Pieter-Steph du Toit played for? Sports Brief has sourced details of the lock's clubs, career performance, and statistics from credible references such as All Rugby and SA Rugby.

What is Pieter-Steph du Toit's number?

Throughout his career, Pieter-Steph du Toit has played in the lock, loose forward, and flank positions. As a result, he has worn the number 5 and 7 jerseys.

South Africa's Pieter-Steph Du Toit (r) in action.
South Africa's Pieter-Steph Du Toit (r) in action during the RWC Gold final match against New Zealand at Stade de France on October 28, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo by RvS.Media/Sylvie Failletaz.
Source: Getty Images

Where is Pieter-Steph du Toit playing rugby now?

The blindside flanker plays for Japan's Toyota Verblitz and the South African national rugby team. Here is a summary of his club and international career.

Pieter-Steph du Toit's club career stats

At the time of writing, the South African loose forward has received 24 caps from League One's Toyota Verblitz. Have a look at his performance over the years.

Teams

Matches

Wins

Draws

Losses

Points

Sharks

8

5

0

3

-

Stormers

59

31

2

26

20

Toyota Verblitz

29

-

-

-

10

South Africa's Pieter-Steph Du Toit (c) in action.
South Africa's Pieter-Steph Du Toit (c) in action during the RWC match against Ireland at Stade de France on September 23, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo by Lionel Hahn.
Source: Getty Images

Pieter-Steph du Toit's international career stats

Steph’s history with the Springboks began with the Under 19s in 2012. He made his test debut on the 9th of November 2013 during a match against Wales at Millennium Stadium. Additionally, he sports a 77.77% IRB Rugby World Cup and a 47.72% Rugby Championship success rate.

Caps

76

Career points

40

Career tries

8

All-time RWC matches

14

All-time RWC points

10

All-time RWC tries

2

Awards

In addition to leading his team to an RWC win in France, Pietr-Steph was the Man of the Match in the Rugby World Cup final match in 2023. Here are some of his major awards over the years:

  • 2016, 2018, 2019 South African Rugby Player of the Year
  • 2020 World Player of the Year
  • 2023 SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Award nominee
Pieter-Steph Du Toit poses with the Web Ellis Cup.
South Africa's Pieter-Steph Du Toit (c) poses with the Web Ellis Cup following the Rugby World Cup final against England on November 02, 2019, in Kanagawa, Japan. Photo by David Ramos/World Rugby.
Source: Getty Images

Frequently asked questions

Du Toit's career features a rollercoaster of events, from a string of injuries to trophies. Here are some interesting facts about his life.

1. What happened to Pieter-Steph?

In 2010, he suffered a potentially career-ending condition, acute compartment syndrome, that stemmed from a thigh injury. Quick thinking by doctors and family support aided Pieter-Steph du Toit’s recovery from the near-fatal injury. According to the Guardian, his wife has been instrumental in her husband's recovery.

In 2014, PSTD suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on his knee five months before the Rugby World Cup. Pieter-Steph du Toit’s father donated a hamstring tendon to his son a year after he made his senior Springbok test debut. The gesture shortened his recovery by weeks, allowing him to take part in the tournament.

2. How much is Pieter-Steph du Toit's salary?

Reports suggest that he is among the highest-paid rugby players in South Africa. However, details of his salary have yet to be revealed to the public.

3. How much is Pieter-Steph du Toit's net worth?

According to Popular Bio, Pieter's net worth ranges between $1 million and $5 million. Publications such as SANotify claim that his financial portfolio is valued at about $2 million.

South Africa's Pieter-Steph Du Toit (c) in action.
Stormers' Pieter-Steph du Toit (in red) in action during the Super Rugby match against Vodacom Bulls on May 21, 2016, in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo by Johan Rynners/Gallo Images.
Source: Getty Images

Final word

Pieter-Steph du Toit is one of the most talented players in the South African rugby scene. His journey to the top of athletic stardom makes him one of the most influential rugby players.

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Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.
Tags
Rugby World CupSouth African Rugby Union (SARU)Springboks