12 Facts About Jan Ellis

Jan Hendrik Ellis was a South African rugby union player who represented the Springboks in 38 tests, which at his retirement in 1976 was a record.

In 1962 the 20-year-old Jan Ellis was selected at lock for South West Africa's 12 June match at Windhoek's Suidwes Stadion against the British Lions, who were touring South Africa.

Between 1962 and 1969 Jan Ellis played lock, flank, and number eight for South West Africa.

Jan Ellis was chosen to play for various South African development sides, such as the 1966 South African Gazelles tour to Argentina on which he played 9 matches and scored 17 tries, as well as South African Country and South African Barbarian teams.

At the age of 22 Jan Ellis made his test debut against the All Blacks in Wellington on 31 July 1965, replacing Frik du Preez who was moved to lock alongside Tiny Naude.

Jan Ellis became a permanent fixture in this position until his last test against New Zealand on 24 July 1976 in Durban.

Jan Ellis' talents were best displayed when he was paired with flanker Piet Greyling, a combination initiated during France's 1967 tour to South Africa.

Jan Ellis played his final match for South West Africa in their 31 August 1974 contest at the Suidwes Stadion against Griqualand West as captain.

Jan Ellis captained Transvaal in its outing against the visiting All Blacks on 31 July 1976 at Jan Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

New Zealand journalist Terry McLean claimed that Jan Ellis had punched All Black captain Andy Leslie in the 31 July 1976 match between Transvaal and the All Blacks hard enough to cause a hairline fracture in his jaw.

Jan Ellis was asked to captain such a mixed South African Invitation XV team for a match on 10 July 1976 at Newlands that included eight future Springboks.

Late in life Jan Ellis contracted bone-marrow cancer and suffered for 18 months before dying in a Pretoria hospice on 8 February 2013.