RIP Springbok Legend Jan Ellis

[PaarlBok]

Pretty sad following a few days after Louis Luyt one of my biggest childhood Springbok legends.

SA Rugby

The South African Rugby Union on Friday expressed its deep sadness at the passing of legendary former Springbok looseforward, Jan Ellis. The one-time joint record holder for the number of Springbok caps succumbed to cancer at a hospice in Pretoria after suffering from the disease for some time. He celebrated his 71st birthday in January.

Jan Ellis ranks as an all-time Springbok great and one of the outstanding loose forwards of his era. He played in 38 of the 39 Tests that the Springboks played between his debut in 1965 and his final test in 1976. Had he played in the professional era his 12-season career would have resulted in a century of Test appearances.

“Our condolences go to Jan’s family and his friends,” said Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union. “Jan Ellis was one of the greatest Springbok loose forwards of any era. He was one of those unbelievably tough Springbok forwards for which our country is renowned.

“He was a fixture in the Springbok team for more than a decade and will be fondly remembered by the older generation.”

Ellis was born in Brakpan but moved to South West Africa (what is now known as Namibia) as a child. He went to school in in the sheep and cattle farming town of Gobabis and, as a raw-boned, red-headed youngster, won selection for South West Africa and earned a place at Springbok trials having played at lock against the 1964 British & Irish Lions.

He earned his first cap on the Springbok tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1965, making his Test debut in the first of four Tests against New Zealand in Wellington at the age of 22. He was not to lose his starting place until his 34th year.

He was an obsessive trainer and his speed and fitness led him to score seven Test tries and a phenomenal 32 in the 74 appearances he made in all Springbok matches. He made his final appearance in a 16-7 win over the 1976 All Blacks in Durban, equalling Frik du Preez’s record of 38 Springbok Test appearances.

Ellis was shot in an armed robbery in Pretoria in December 2000, since when his health had suffered.

He is survived by his wife Heila, a son and daughter and five grandchildren – one of whose weddings he attended on Saturday.

genslin

Jan Ellis
Full names: Jan Hendrik
Date of birth: 5 Jan 1942
Place of birth: Brakpan, South Africa
School: Gobabis
Debut test province: South West Africa
Physical: 1.85m, 97.5kg
Date of death: 8 Feb 2013 (Age 71)

Test summary: Tests: 38 Tries: 7
First Test: 31 Jul 1965 Age:23 Flank against New Zealand at Athletic Park, Wellington
Last Test: 24 Jul 1976 Age:34 Flank against New Zealand at Kingspark, Durban

Jan Ellis by Doc Craven
Jan Ellis in many respects, was a marvel. He made his reputation in South West Africa, well away from the main centres of recognised rugby and it took a great deal of determination as well as talent to rise to the top.

Only a very gifted player could do that because you only play as well as your company allows. The company you play in tends to restrict you - and with respect, he was not playing in the best of company when he represented South West Africa.

Yet he became a Springbok and he remained a Bok for a long time. Jan also had a difficult temperament, because he was an artist, and this did not always help him.

But he gave South Africa wonderful service in his many years of test rugby, 11 years in all. It takes a great player to play at international level for so long while out of the recognised mainstream.

Photogallery
http://springbokrugby.webs.com/apps/photos/?ss=14492109

When I was a prymary school kid we use to play rugby in the parkie (we even had smallies rugby poles) which was surrounded with trees. One of us was Gerhard Viviers (spiekeries) and had to sit in tree to commentate the match loud while we played. Every player had to pick his hero's name. I always picked Jan Ellis, He also was the first Springbok rugby player I saw played a live match when SWA (South West Africa) played against NWK (North Western Cape) in a match on my neighbour schoolboy town of Nababeep.

Nag ou Grote , we'll never forget you! RIP

 

[Ruggo]

My condolences to his family and the SA Rugby community.

 

[Dan54]

Paarl, I agree one of the real great players of our game, and one the Springboks who always put a little fear in All Black supporters.