Springbok no. 72 · Forward
PO Nel
Pieter Albertus Ryno Otto Nel · Lions
3Tests
0Tries
0Tours
26Age at debut
Test career
1903
First test
29 Aug 1903, age 26 · Forward v Britain, Wanderers (Old Wanderers), Johannesburg
Last test
12 Sep 1903, age 26 · Forward v Britain, Newlands, Cape Town
Biography
PO Nel was a Transvaal forward who played in all three Tests against the 1903 British Isles side, helping South Africa to its first series win. Born in Greytown on 17 April 1877 and educated at Paul Roos Gymnasium, he played for and captained Stellenbosch before moving north.
Markötter believed he was unlucky to miss the 1906–07 tour. A mining engineer, he later suffered from miner’s phthisis. He died on 23 July 1928.
Test history
3 tests · 0 points| Date | Opponent | Venue | Position | Result | Province |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Aug 1903 |  Britain | Wanderers (Old Wanderers), Johannesburg | Forward | D 10–10 | Lions |
| 05 Sep 1903 | Britain | Kimberley Athletic Club Ground, Kimberley | Forward | D 0–0 | Lions |
| 12 Sep 1903 | Britain | Newlands, Cape Town | Forward | W 8–0 | Lions |