Jacques Nel

Jacques Jehan Nel (born 17 March 1993 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for Aurillac in the Rugby Pro D2.[1] His regular position is centre or winger.

Not to be confused with Jacques Nell, a Namibian rugby union player that represented the Welwitschias in the 2015 Vodacom Cup..

Jacques Nel
Full nameJacques Jehan Nel
Date of birth (1993-03-17) 17 March 1993
Place of birthPort Elizabeth, South Africa
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight91 kg (201 lb; 14 st 5 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Brandwag, Benoni
Notable relative(s)Ruhan Nel (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre / Winger
Current team Aurillac
Youth career
2011 Falcons
2012–2014 Golden Lions
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2015 UJ 8 (5)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2017 Golden Lions XV 20 (45)
2015–2017 Golden Lions 13 (40)
2016–2017 Lions 11 (0)
2017–2018 Southern Kings 13 (10)
2018–present Aurillac 0 (0)
Correct as of 6 May 2018

Career

Nel was born in Port Elizabeth, but grew up in Benoni, where he earned an inclusion to the Falcons squad that competed at the Under-18 Craven Week tournament held in Kimberley in 2011. He started three matches and scored a try against the SWD Eagles.[2]

He made the very short move to Johannesburg to the Golden Lions Academy after high school. He appeared in all thirteen of the Golden Lions U19s' matches during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship, starting twelve of those. He scored a try in both of their matches against Free State U19[3][4] and two tries against SWD U21 in George[5] to help his side secure a semi-final place. However, they lost in the semi-finals, with Western Province U21 winning the match 24–14 in Stellenbosch.[6]

Nel made his first class debut on 15 March 2013; he was included in the Golden Lions squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition and started their Round Two match against former side the Falcons in a 22–27 defeat.[7] He started two more matches in losses to the Blue Bulls[8] and Griffons[9] respectively, but didn't feature in the play-offs. The Golden Lions won the competition, beating the Pumas 42–28 in the final in Nelspruit.[10]

Despite still being in the Under-20 age-group, Nel started all thirteen of the Golden Lions' matches in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship. He scored six tries – including a brace in their match against eventual champions Western Province U21[11] – as the Golden Lions finished in fourth spot. However, Nel lost in a semi-final to Western Province for the second consecutive year, who beat Golden Lions U21 44–41 after extra time.[12]

He started the 2014 season by representing UJ in the 2014 Varsity Cup competition. He started in all seven their matches and scored a try in their 32–15 victory over rival Johannesburg-based university side Wits.[13] It proved to be a disappointing campaign for UJ, however, as they finished second-bottom in the competition to qualify for a relegation play-off match against UKZN Impi. Nel also started this match, as UJ ran out 42–8 victors to retain their Varsity Cup status for 2015.[14] He started ten matches for Golden Lions U21 in the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship and contributed four tries – two of those in their match against Free State U21 in Bloemfontein[15] – as they once again reached the semi-finals only to be eliminated at that stage, this time by the Blue Bulls U21s, who won 23–19 in Pretoria.[16]

Nel made five starts and two substitute appearances for the Golden Lions during the 2015 Vodacom Cup. He scored two tries in their match against the Pumas in a 24–16 victory in Nelspruit[17] as they went through the regular season unbeaten to finish top of the Northern Section log. He scored his third try of the season in their 29–21 victory over the SWD Eagles,[18] but was not a member of the side that lost their semi-final 20–43 to the Pumas a week later.[19]

Nel was included in the Golden Lions' Currie Cup side for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division and was named on the bench for their Round Five match against the Eastern Province Kings in Johannesburg.[20]

Aurillac

Nel moved to French Pro D2 side Aurillac prior to the 2018–19 season.[21]

Statistics
As of 3 September 2015.
First class career
Season Teams Currie Cup Vodacom Cup Other Total
Apps Pts Apps Pts Apps Pts Apps Pts
2013 Golden Lions——30——30
2014 Golden Lions——————00
2015Golden Lions——715——715
Career Total——1015——1015

Personal life

He is the younger brother of South Africa Sevens international Ruhan Nel.[22]

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Jacques Nel". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 39-23 SWD". South African Rugby Union. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 25-21 Toyota Free State Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State Cheetahs 27-31 MTN Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – SWD Eagles 5-46 MTN Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 24-14 MTN Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 27-22 MTN Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 26-54 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Down Touch Griffons 30-19 MTN Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Steval Pumas 28-42 MTN Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions U21 26-53 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  12. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 44-41 MTN Golden Lions U21". South African Rugby Union. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  13. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UJ 32-15 FNB WITS". South African Rugby Union. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  14. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UJ 42-8 FNB UKZN". South African Rugby Union. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  15. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Free State U21 12-52 Golden Lions U21". South African Rugby Union. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  16. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blue Bulls U21 23-19 Golden Lions U21". South African Rugby Union. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  17. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Steval Pumas 16-24 Xerox Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  18. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Xerox Golden Lions 29-21 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  19. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Xerox Golden Lions 20-43 Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  20. "Team Announcement - Xerox Golden Lions vs EP Kings". Golden Lions. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  21. "2018-2019 : Les Recrues !" (Press release) (in French). Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  22. "Ruhan Nel kan teen Kwagga Smith, broer in CB speel". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 31 July 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
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