Dan Van Zyl only began playing scrum-half in 1992 having previously played outside half to Joost Van Der Westhuizen at the University of Pretoria in 1990 and 1991. A talented cricketer, he has played limited overs and first-class cricket for the Northern provincial team in South Africa, while he played minor countries cricket for Shropshire in 1995. Having understudied Van Der Westhuizen at the Blue Bulls, he enlisted with Mpumalanga in 1996 and he has now played 50 games for them. He is employed in sports marketing.