Jeremy John Nel (born 21 September 1934) is a South African former rugby union player.[1]

Jeremy Nel
Nel in New Zealand in 1956
Birth nameJeremy John Nel
Date of birth (1934-09-21) 21 September 1934 (age 89)
Place of birthLouis Trichardt, Transvaal
Date of deathJune 25, 2023(2023-06-25) (aged 88)
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb)
SchoolPotchefstroom High School for Boys
UniversityStellenbosch University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Flyhalf
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1952 Western Transvaal ()
1953 Eastern Province ()
1955–1956 Western Province ()
1957 Boland ()
1958 Transvaal ()
1962–1963 Free State ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1956–1958 South Africa 8 (3)

Playing career edit

Nel matriculated in Potchefstroom and while he was still at school and at the age of seventeen, he made his senior provincial debut for Western Transvaal. After school he went to Rhodes University where he spend a year and played for Eastern Province. After his year at Rhodes he moved to Stellenbosch University and in 1955 was selected for Western Province. Nel also played provincial rugby for Boland, Transvaal and the Free State, thus for six provincial teams, which was a record for the time.[2]

Nel toured with the Springboks to Australia and New Zealand in 1956. He played in all six test matches during the tour with his debut against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, scoring a try on debut. In 1958 he played two test matches against France.[3] Nel played eight test matches and fifteen tour matches for the Springboks, scoring one test try and also twenty nine points in tour matches, including 8 tries.[4]

Test history edit

No. Opponents Results
(SA 1st)
Position Tries Dates Venue
1.   Australia 9–0 Centre 1 26 May 1956 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
2.   Australia 9–0 Centre 2 Jun 1956 Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane
3.   New Zealand 6–10 Centre 14 Jul 1956 Carisbrook, Dunedin
4.   New Zealand 8–3 Centre 4 Aug 1956 Athletic Park, Wellington
5.   New Zealand 10–17 Centre 18 Aug 1956 Lancaster Park, Christchurch
6.   New Zealand 5–11 Centre 1 Sep 1956 Eden Park, Auckland
7.   France 3–3 Centre 26 Jul 1958 Newlands, Cape Town
8.   France 5–9 Flyhalf 16 Aug 1958 Ellis Park, Johannesburg

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Jeremy Nel". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  2. ^ Craven, Daniel Hartman (1980). Die groot rugbygesin van die Maties. Kaapstad: G. & S. pp. 182–183. ISBN 0620048794. OCLC 86067195.
  3. ^ Jooste, Graham K. (1995). South African rugby test players 1949-1995. Johannesburg: Penguin. pp. 19–25. ISBN 0140250174. OCLC 36916860.
  4. ^ Heath, Duane; Grieb, Eddie; Smit, Kobus (2020). South African Rugby Annual 2020. Cape Town: South African Rugby Union. p. 242. ISBN 9780620872041.