Publications
Partners
Springbok and Lions prop Jannie du Plessis says he will put on his scrubs if his services as a medical doctor are required during the coronavirus pandemic.
Register your interest for the British & Irish Lions tickets in South Africa 2021
The 37-year-old has brought his family to their farm in the Bethlehem-district in the eastern Free State as the country endures a 21-day lockdown.
However, he told IOL Sport: "If there's a need for me to help out somewhere, I'd want to do that. At the moment there are just over 1 000 cases in the country and in my area, where I am at the moment, there is no need.
"I think our (medical and health) system is coping quite well with the current challenges we are facing. If this changed, however, and duty called, of course I'd help out where I could."
Du Plessis, who played 70 Tests for the Springboks between 2007 and 2015, earlier this week told Netwerk24 that he did some research on the coronavirus.
"For me it has about the same effect as the 1918 flu pandemic - the human immune system was not strong enough for that virus and it led to a large number of deaths.
"What gave me a fright of this current virus was how quickly it spread. We were still on tour in Australia just a few weeks ago, but it makes you sit up and take note how it spread worldwide in a short period."
READ | Doc Jannie on coronavirus: 'Normal will never be quite like we knew it'
Du Plessis returned to South Africa this year after playing for French club Montpellier between 2015 and 2019.
Before that, he played for the Sharks (2008-2015) and Cheetahs (2003-2007).
His brother Bismarck still plays for Montpellier and is currently in France with his family.
- Compiled by Sport24 staff
