{{Short description|South African rugby union player (born 1993)}} {{distinguish|text=Jacques Nell, a Namibian rugby union player that represented the {{Rut|Welwitschias}} in the 2015 Vodacom Cup.}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Use South African English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby biography | name = Jacques Nel | image = | fullname = Jacques Jehan Nel | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|03|17|df=y}} | birth_place = Port Elizabeth, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.86}} | weight = {{cvt|91|kg|lb stlb}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Hoërskool Brandwag, Benoni | university = | relatives = Ruhan Nel (brother) | position = Centre / Winger | currentclub = {{Rut|Aurillac}} | youthyears1 = 2011 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Falcons}} | youthyears2 = 2012–2014 | youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}} | years1 = 2013–2017 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}} | apps1 = 20 | points1 = 45 | years2 = 2015–2017 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}} | apps2 = 13 | points2 = 40 | years3 = 2016–2017 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Lions}} | apps3 = 11 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2017–2018 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Southern Kings}} | apps4 = 13 | points4 = 10 | years5 = 2018–present | clubs5 = {{Rut|Aurillac}} | apps5 = 0 | points5 = 0 | amatyears1 = 2014–2015 | amatteam1 = {{Rut|UJ}} | amatapps1 = 8 | amatpoints1 = 5 | clubupdate = 6 May 2018 }}
'''Jacques Jehan Nel''' (born 17 March 1993) is a South African professional rugby union player for {{Rut|Aurillac}} in the Rugby Pro D2.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Jacques Nel">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=52831 | name=Jacques Nel | date=29 May 2016}}</ref> His regular position is centre or winger.
==Career==
Nel was born in Port Elizabeth, but grew up in Benoni, where he earned an inclusion to the {{Rut|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 {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}.<ref name="Valke 39-23 SWD">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=20811 | homeid=8674 | awayid=8680 | leagueid=819 | hometeam=Valke | homescore=39 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=SWD | matchdate=13 July 2011 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref>
Nel made the very short move to Johannesburg to the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} Academy after high school. He appeared in all thirteen of the {{Rut|Golden Lions U19}}s' matches during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship, starting twelve of those. He scored a try in both of their matches against {{Rut|Free State U19}}<ref name="MTN Golden Lions 25-21 Toyota Free State Cheetahs">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105721 | homeid=11951 | awayid=11991 | leagueid=1251 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=25 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=Toyota Free State Cheetahs | matchdate=11 August 2012 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="Toyota Free State Cheetahs 27-31 MTN Golden Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105931 | homeid=11991 | awayid=11951 | leagueid=1251 | hometeam=Toyota Free State Cheetahs | homescore=27 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions | matchdate=29 September 2012 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> and two tries against {{Rut|SWD U21}} in George<ref name="SWD Eagles 5-46 MTN Golden Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105751 | homeid=11971 | awayid=11951 | leagueid=1251 | hometeam=SWD Eagles | homescore=5 | awayscore=46 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions | matchdate=17 August 2012 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> to help his side secure a semi-final place. However, they lost in the semi-finals, with {{Rut|Western Province U21}} winning the match 24–14 in Stellenbosch.<ref name="DHL Western Province 24-14 MTN Golden Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106021 | homeid=11961 | awayid=11951 | leagueid=1251 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=24 | awayscore=14 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions | matchdate=20 October 2012 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref>
Nel made his first class debut on 15 March 2013; he was included in the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition and started their Round Two match against former side the {{Rut|Falcons}} in a 22–27 defeat.<ref name="Valke 27-22 MTN Golden Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103834 | homeid=11744 | awayid=11684 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Valke | homescore=27 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions | matchdate=15 March 2013 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> He started two more matches in losses to the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}<ref name="MTN Golden Lions 26-54 Vodacom Blue Bulls">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103974 | homeid=11684 | awayid=11754 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=26 | awayscore=54 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=23 March 2013 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> and {{Rut|Griffons}}<ref name="Down Touch Griffons 30-19 MTN Golden Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=104064 | homeid=11654 | awayid=11684 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=30 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions | matchdate=5 April 2013 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> respectively, but didn't feature in the play-offs. The Golden Lions won the competition, beating the {{Rut|Pumas}} 42–28 in the final in Nelspruit.<ref name="Steval Pumas 28-42 MTN Golden Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=107764 | homeid=11644 | awayid=11684 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Steval Pumas | homescore=28 | awayscore=42 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions | matchdate=17 May 2013 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref>
Despite still being in the Under-20 age-group, Nel started all thirteen of the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}' matches in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship. He scored six tries – including a brace in their match against eventual champions {{Rut|Western Province U21}}<ref name="MTN Golden Lions U21 26-53 DHL Western Province">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=110614 | homeid=15274 | awayid=15244 | leagueid=1434 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions U21 | homescore=26 | awayscore=53 | awayteam=DHL Western Province | matchdate=24 August 2013 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> – 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.<ref name="DHL Western Province 44-41 MTN Golden Lions U21">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=110834 | homeid=15244 | awayid=15274 | leagueid=1434 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=44 | awayscore=41 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions U21 | matchdate=19 October 2013 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref>
Nel started the 2014 season by representing {{Rut|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 {{Rut|Wits}}.<ref name="FNB UJ 32-15 FNB WITS">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=117104 | homeid=17184 | awayid=17204 | leagueid=1694 | hometeam=FNB UJ | homescore=32 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=FNB WITS | matchdate=17 February 2014 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> 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 {{Rut|UKZN Impi}}. Nel also started this match, as UJ ran out 42–8 victors to retain their Varsity Cup status for 2015.<ref name="FNB UJ 42-8 FNB UKZN">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=121174 | homeid=18674 | awayid=18684 | leagueid=1854 | hometeam=FNB UJ | homescore=42 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=FNB UKZN | matchdate=7 April 2014 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> He started ten matches for {{Rut|Golden Lions U21}} in the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship and contributed four tries – two of those in their match against {{Rut|Free State U21}} in Bloemfontein<ref name="Free State U21 12-52 Golden Lions U21">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=120944 | homeid=18484 | awayid=18514 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Free State U21 | homescore=12 | awayscore=52 | awayteam=Golden Lions U21 | matchdate=30 August 2014 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> – as they once again reached the semi-finals only to be eliminated at that stage, this time by the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U21}}s, who won 23–19 in Pretoria.<ref name="Blue Bulls U21 23-19 Golden Lions U21">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=121154 | homeid=18454 | awayid=18514 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Blue Bulls U21 | homescore=23 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Golden Lions U21 | matchdate=17 October 2014 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref>
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 {{Rut|Pumas}} in a 24–16 victory in Nelspruit<ref name="Steval Pumas 16-24 Xerox Golden Lions">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140394 | homeid=24334 | awayid=24324 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Steval Pumas | homescore=16 | awayscore=24 | awayteam=Xerox Golden Lions | matchdate=11 April 2015 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> 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 {{Rut|SWD Eagles}},<ref name="Xerox Golden Lions 29-21 SWD Eagles">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140804 | homeid=24324 | awayid=24354 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Xerox Golden Lions | homescore=29 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=16 May 2015 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref> but was not a member of the side that lost their semi-final 20–43 to the {{Rut|Pumas}} a week later.<ref name="Xerox Golden Lions 20-43 Steval Pumas">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140844 | homeid=24324 | awayid=24334 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Xerox Golden Lions | homescore=20 | awayscore=43 | awayteam=Steval Pumas | matchdate=22 May 2015 | date=14 April 2016}}</ref>
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 {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} in Johannesburg.<ref name="Team Announcement - Xerox Golden Lions vs EP Kings">{{cite web | url=http://www.lionsrugby.co.za/lionsnews.aspx?item=4128&multiid=1390&archive=0 | title=Team Announcement - Xerox Golden Lions vs EP Kings | work=Golden Lions | date=3 September 2015 | access-date=3 September 2015 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
===Aurillac===
Nel moved to French Pro D2 side {{Rut|Aurillac}} prior to the 2018–19 season.<ref name="2018-2019 : Les Recrues !">{{cite press release | url=http://www.stade-aurillacois.fr/2018-2019-les-recrues | title=2018-2019 : Les Recrues ! | publisher=Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne | date=24 May 2018 | access-date=28 May 2018 | language=fr}}</ref>
===Statistics===
{{updated|3 September 2015.}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%; width:85%" |- ! colspan=100% | First class career |- ! style="width:5%;" rowspan=2 | Season ! style="width:25%;" rowspan=2 | Teams ! colspan=2 | Currie Cup ! colspan=2 | Vodacom Cup ! colspan=2 | Other ! colspan=2 | Total |- ! style="width:5%;" | Apps ! style="width:5%;" | Pts ! style="width:5%;" | Apps ! style="width:5%;" | Pts ! style="width:5%;" | Apps ! style="width:5%;" | Pts ! style="width:5%;" | Apps ! style="width:5%;" | Pts |- | 2013 || style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Golden Lions}} || — || — || 3 || 0 || — || — || 3 || 0 |- | 2014 || style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Golden Lions}} || — || — || — || — || — || — || 0 || 0 |- | 2015 || style="text-align:left;" | Golden Lions || — || — || 7 || 15 || — || — || 7 || 15 |- ! colspan=2 | Career Total || — || — || 10 || 15 || — || — || 10 || 15 |}
==Personal life==
He is the younger brother of South Africa Sevens international Ruhan Nel.<ref name="Ruhan Nel kan teen Kwagga Smith, broer in CB speel">{{cite web | url=http://www.netwerk24.com/netwerk24/sport/rugby/2015-07-31-ruhan-nel-kan-teen-kwagga-smith-broer-in-cb-speel | title=Ruhan Nel kan teen Kwagga Smith, broer in CB speel | work=Netwerk24 | date=31 July 2015 | access-date=3 September 2015 | language=af}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nel, Jacques}} Category:South African rugby union players Category:Living people Category:1993 births Category:Rugby union players from Gqeberha Category:Rugby union centres Category:Rugby union wings Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players Category:Southern Kings players Category:21st-century South African sportsmen