 Nel representing Scotland during the Summer Internationals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Willem Petrus Nel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 April 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Loeriesfontein, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 114 kg (251 lb; 17 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Drostdy THS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Willem Petrus Nel (born 30 April 1986) is South African-born Scottish former professional rugby union player.
Nel joined Scottish Pro 12 side Edinburgh in July 2012. [1]
After three years at Murrayfield Stadium, Nel became eligible to represent Scotland in June 2015, and claimed he would decline an invitation to represent his native Springboks in order to do so. [2] He made his international bow against Italy during the 2015 summer Tests, and was subsequently named in the final 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. [3] [4]
He scored his first international try in the 39–16 World Cup match against the USA.
Nel played in all of Scotland's matches in the 2016 Six Nations but missed the 2016 Autumn Internationals and the entire 2017 Six Nations due to a neck injury. This injury probably cost him a place in the Lions touring squad to New Zealand in 2017.
In March 2017 it was announced that Nel had signed a three-year extension to his contract with Edinburgh. [5]
Nel played in four (starting three) of Scotland's group matches at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
In 2023 Nel was selected in the 33 player squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, making his final appearance for Scotland in the pool stage loss against Ireland. [6]
In March 2024, Nel announced his intention to retire from rugby at the end of the season. [7] [8]
Thomas James Smith was a Scottish professional rugby union player who played as a loosehead prop. Born in London and schooled in the Scottish Highlands, Smith began his career with Dundee HSFP and then Watsonians before joining the Caledonia Reds as the game changed from amateur to professional. A brief spell at Glasgow Warriors followed before two seasons at Brive and then eight successful years at Northampton Saints. At international level, Smith earned 61 caps for Scotland and was selected for two tours with the British & Irish Lions, in 1997 and 2001, starting six consecutive tests. After retiring from playing, he went into coaching.
Edinburgh Rugby is one of the two professional rugby union teams from Scotland. The club competes in the United Rugby Championship, along with the Glasgow Warriors, its oldest rival. Edinburgh plays the majority of its home games at Edinburgh Rugby Stadium.
Simon Charles Jonathan Danielli is a Scottish former rugby union footballer who played on the wing for Ulster and Scotland.
Allan Jacobsen is a retired Scottish rugby union player. Nicknamed "Chunk", Jacobsen played with Edinburgh his entire professional career.
Adam Rhys Jones is a Welsh former professional international rugby union player for Wales and the British & Irish Lions. He is currently scrum coach for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins.
Alasdair Dickinson is a Scottish rugby union coach. He was previously a Scotland international rugby union player; and played for the clubs Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester and Sale Sharks. He played as a prop.
John Adam Barclay is a Scottish former rugby union player, who played as a flanker and Number 8. He made 76 international appearances for the Scotland national team 2007–2019. He played at three world cups. He played club rugby for Glasgow Warriors, Scarlets and Edinburgh Rugby.
Samson Lee is a former Wales international rugby union player. Lee played for the Scarlets, as well as local teams Llanelli and Ammanford. His position is prop forward. Lee has represented Wales, making his debut against Argentina in November 2013.
Joseph William George Marler is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins and the England national team.
John Hardie is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played most recently for Newcastle Falcons. Hardie predominantly played as an open side flanker. He represented Scotland internationally between 2015 and 2022.
Tangaki Taulupe Faletau, commonly known as Toby Faletau but professionally as Taulupe Faletau, is a Welsh professional rugby union player for Cardiff Rugby in the United Rugby Championship and has represented the Wales national team for over 10 years. The back row forward played for Cross Keys RFC, Newport RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales before joining Bath in England in 2016. He joined present club Cardiff in 2022.
Kyle Traynor is a retired Scottish rugby union prop who played four times for Scotland between 2009 and 2012, he played club rugby for Edinburgh, Bristol Bears, Leicester Tigers and Gloucester.
Cornell du Preez is a South African-born Scottish rugby union player. He currently plays as a loose forward for Toulon in the Top 14 and represented Scotland internationally.
Stuart McInally is a retired Scottish professional rugby union player who played as a hooker most notably for United Rugby Championship club Edinburgh and the Scotland national team.
The 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches were a series of rugby union test matches that took place in August and September 2015, as the 20 competing teams prepared for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Rory Sutherland is a Scottish professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for French Top 14 club Oyonnax and the Scotland national team.
Pierre Schoeman is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Edinburgh Rugby. Born in South Africa, he represents Scotland at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
Alistair William Price is a professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for United Rugby Championship club Edinburgh. Born in England, he represents Scotland at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Javan Sebastian is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Edinburgh Rugby.
Duhan van der Merwe is a professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship club Edinburgh. Born in South Africa, he represents Scotland at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
   | This South Africa rugby union biography is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
