Springbok no. 362 · Eighthman
Lofty Nel
Johannes Arnoldus Nel · Lions, W-Tvl
11Tests
0Tries
1Tours
24Age at debut
Test career
196019651970
First test
25 Jun 1960, age 24 · Eighthman v New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Last test
12 Sep 1970, age 35 · Eighthman v New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Biography
Lofty Nel was a big, abrasive loose forward whose Test career spanned ten years. Born in Pretoria on 11 August 1935, he played for Transvaal and Western Transvaal.
He made his debut against the 1960 All Blacks and played eight Tests against New Zealand in all, the last in a 20–17 win at Ellis Park in 1970, when he was 35. He also toured Australia and New Zealand in 1965. He died on 18 July 2016.
Test history
11 tests · 0 points| Date | Opponent | Venue | Position | Result | Province |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1960 |  New Zealand | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | Eighthman | W 13–0 | Lions |
| 23 Jul 1960 | New Zealand | Newlands, Cape Town | Eighthman | L 3–11 | Lions |
| 13 Jul 1963 |  Australia | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | Flank | W 14–3 | W-Tvl |
| 10 Aug 1963 | Australia | Newlands, Cape Town | Flank | L 5–9 | W-Tvl |
| 26 Jun 1965 | Australia | Brisbane Stadium (Lang Park), Brisbane | Flank | L 8–12 | W-Tvl |
| 31 Jul 1965 | New Zealand | Athletic Park, Wellington | Eighthman | L 3–6 | W-Tvl |
| 21 Aug 1965 | New Zealand | Carisbrook, Dunedin | Eighthman | L 0–13 | W-Tvl |
| 04 Sep 1965 | New Zealand | Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch | Flank | W 19–16 | W-Tvl |
| 18 Sep 1965 | New Zealand | Eden Park, Auckland | Flank | L 3–20 | W-Tvl |
| 29 Aug 1970 | New Zealand | Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth | Eighthman | W 14–3 | W-Tvl |
| 12 Sep 1970 | New Zealand | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | Eighthman | W 20–17 | W-Tvl |