Christiaan Johannes de Nysschen was born on 31 January 1936. Chris played for Natal from 1955 to 1960. He first played at the tender age of nineteen. He played a total of twenty-five games for Natal.

The highlight of his career came when he was invited to the 1956 Springbok trials while still only nineteen years of age. At 6ft 5.5 in.he was the tallest person at the trials. He held his own an all the games, refusing to be intimidated by his elder, more experienced opposition. He out jumped all in his path. He also displayed a remarkable agility for such a tall lock forward. He finally made the ‘possible's’ side to meet the ‘probable's’ in the final trial on the Thursday afternoon.

It was make or break for the ‘possibles’ and their last chance to catch the selection panel’s eye. The ‘possibles’ put everything into the game. They totally outclassed their more fancied opponents, dominating the possession stakes and none better than the young lock forward. He looked to be the best lock on display. He had staked his claim to a berth in the Springbok touring party. The team announced showed two Natal players in the side to be led by Basie Viviers, and Chris was one of them.

He was kept out of the test side by the likes of Salty du Randt, Johan Claassen and Jan Pickard. He made ten appearances on the tour to Australia and New Zealand, scoring one try in the process.