Jan Ellis
Full names: Jan Hendrik
Date of birth: 5 Jan 1942
Place of birth: Brakpan
School: Wennie Du Plessis
Springbok no: 415
Springbok debut 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
Tours Australia & New Zealand 1965 France 1968 British Isles & Ireland 1969-70 Australia 1971 France 1974
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
31 Jul 1965 23Flank New Zealand Athletic Park, Wellington Lose: 3-6  SWA
21 Aug 1965 23Flank New Zealand Carisbrook, Dunedin Lose: 0-13  SWA
04 Sep 1965 23Flank New Zealand Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch Win: 19-16  SWA
18 Sep 1965 23Flank New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland Lose: 3-20  SWA
15 Jul 1967 25Flank France Kingspark, Durban Win: 26-31 try SWA
22 Jul 1967 25Flank France Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Win: 16-3  SWA
29 Jul 1967 25Flank France Ellispark, Johannesburg Lose: 14-191 try SWA
12 Aug 1967 25Flank France Newlands, Cape Town Draw: 6-6  SWA
08 Jun 1968 26Flank Britain Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 25-20  SWA
22 Jun 1968 26Flank Britain Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Draw: 6-6  SWA
13 Jul 1968 26Flank Britain Newlands, Cape Town Win: 11-6  SWA
27 Jul 1968 26Flank Britain Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 19-61 try SWA
09 Nov 1968 26Flank France Parc Lescure, Bordeaux Win: 12-9  SWA
16 Nov 1968 26Flank France Stade Olympique, Colombes, Paris Win: 16-11  SWA
02 Aug 1969 27Flank Australia Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 30-111 try SWA
16 Aug 1969 27Flank Australia Kingspark, Durban Win: 16-9  SWA
06 Sep 1969 27Flank Australia Newlands, Cape Town Win: 11-31 try SWA
20 Sep 1969 27Flank Australia Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Win: 19-8  SWA
06 Dec 1969 27Flank Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Lose: 3-6  SWA
10 Jan 1970 28Flank Ireland Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin Draw: 8-8  SWA
24 Jan 1970 28Flank Wales Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff Draw: 6-6  SWA
25 Jul 1970 28Flank New Zealand Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 17-6  SWA
08 Aug 1970 28Flank New Zealand Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 8-9  SWA
29 Aug 1970 28Flank New Zealand Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Win: 14-3  SWA
12 Sep 1970 28Flank New Zealand Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 20-17  SWA
12 Jun 1971 29Flank France Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Win: 22-9  SWA
19 Jun 1971 29Flank France Kingspark, Durban Draw: 8-8  SWA
17 Jul 1971 29Flank Australia Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Win: 19-111 try SWA
31 Jul 1971 29Flank Australia Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane Win: 14-6  SWA
07 Aug 1971 29Flank Australia Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Win: 18-61 try SWA
03 Jun 1972 30Flank England Ellispark, Johannesburg Lose: 9-18  SWA
08 Jun 1974 32Flank Britain Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 3-12  SWA
22 Jun 1974 32Flank Britain Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Lose: 9-28  SWA
13 Jul 1974 32Flank Britain Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Lose: 9-26  SWA
27 Jul 1974 32Flank Britain Ellispark, Johannesburg Draw: 13-13  SWA
23 Nov 1974 32Flank France Stade Municipal, Toulouse Win: 13-4  SWA
30 Nov 1974 32Flank France Parc des Princes, Paris Win: 10-8  SWA
24 Jul 1976 34Flank New Zealand Kingspark, Durban Win: 16-7  Tvl

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.