Jeremy Nel

Jeremy Nel
Nel in New Zealand in 1956
BornJeremy John Nel
(1934-09-21)21 September 1934
Louis Trichardt, Transvaal
Died25 June 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)

Jeremy John Nel (21 September 1934 – 25 June 2023) was a South African rugby union player.[1]

Playing career

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] Nel died on June 25, 2023 at the age of 88.[5]

Test history

No.OpponentsResults
(SA 1st)
PositionTriesDatesVenue
1. Australia9–0Centre126 May 1956Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
2. Australia9–0Centre2 Jun 1956Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane
3. New Zealand6–10Centre14 Jul 1956Carisbrook, Dunedin
4. New Zealand8–3Centre4 Aug 1956Athletic Park, Wellington
5. New Zealand10–17Centre18 Aug 1956Lancaster Park, Christchurch
6. New Zealand5–11Centre1 Sep 1956Eden Park, Auckland
7. France3–3Centre26 Jul 1958Newlands, Cape Town
8. France5–9Flyhalf16 Aug 1958Ellis Park, Johannesburg

See also

References

  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.
  5. ↑ "Jeremy Nel". bokhist.com. Retrieved 15 January 2025.