Jan Hendrik (Hendrik Jakobis volgens Meestersverslag)* 5.1.1942 Brakpan + 8.2.2013 Springbok rugbyspeler word groot Gobabis Namibie x Windhoek SWA 2.10.1965 Hyla Helena Engelbrecht * Olivier 15.4.1939 sy geskei 25.9.1964 kinders Jan en Petro x Olivier

Jan Ellis
Full names: Jan Hendrik
Date of birth: 5 Jan 1942
Place of birth: Brakpan
School: Wennie Du Plessis
Springbok no: 415
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

Test history:
Date Age Position Opponent Result Score Venue Prov
31 Jul 1965 23 Flank New Zealand Lose: 3-6 Athletic Park, Wellington SWA
21 Aug 1965 23 Flank New Zealand Lose: 0-13 Carisbrook, Dunedin SWA
04 Sep 1965 23 Flank New Zealand Win: 19-16 Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch SWA
18 Sep 1965 23 Flank New Zealand Lose: 3-20 Eden Park, Auckland SWA
15 Jul 1967 25 Flank France Win: 26-3 1 try Kingspark, Durban SWA
22 Jul 1967 25 Flank France Win: 16-3 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein SWA
29 Jul 1967 25 Flank France Lose: 14-19 1 try Ellispark, Johannesburg SWA
12 Aug 1967 25 Flank France Draw: 6-6 Newlands, Cape Town SWA
08 Jun 1968 26 Flank Britain Win: 25-20 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria SWA
22 Jun 1968 26 Flank Britain Draw: 6-6 Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth SWA
13 Jul 1968 26 Flank Britain Win: 11-6 Newlands, Cape Town SWA
27 Jul 1968 26 Flank Britain Win: 19-6 1 try Ellispark, Johannesburg SWA
09 Nov 1968 26 Flank France Win: 12-9 Stade Municipal, Bordeaux SWA
16 Nov 1968 26 Flank France Win: 16-11 Stade Olympique, Colombes, Paris SWA
02 Aug 1969 27 Flank Australia Win: 30-11 1 try Ellispark, Johannesburg SWA
16 Aug 1969 27 Flank Australia Win: 16-9 Kingspark, Durban SWA
06 Sep 1969 27 Flank Australia Win: 11-3 1 try Newlands, Cape Town SWA
20 Sep 1969 27 Flank Australia Win: 19-8 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein SWA
06 Dec 1969 27 Flank Scotland Lose: 3-6 Murrayfield, Edinburgh SWA
10 Jan 1970 28 Flank Ireland Draw: 8-8 Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin SWA
24 Jan 1970 28 Flank Wales Draw: 6-6 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff SWA
25 Jul 1970 28 Flank New Zealand Win: 17-6 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria SWA
08 Aug 1970 28 Flank New Zealand Lose: 8-9 Newlands, Cape Town SWA
29 Aug 1970 28 Flank New Zealand Win: 14-3 Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth SWA
12 Sep 1970 28 Flank New Zealand Win: 20-17 Ellispark, Johannesburg SWA
12 Jun 1971 29 Flank France Win: 22-9 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein SWA
19 Jun 1971 29 Flank France Draw: 8-8 Kingspark, Durban SWA
17 Jul 1971 29 Flank Australia Win: 19-11 1 try Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney SWA
31 Jul 1971 29 Flank Australia Win: 14-6 Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane SWA
07 Aug 1971 29 Flank Australia Win: 18-6 1 try Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney SWA
03 Jun 1972 30 Flank England Lose: 9-18 Ellispark, Johannesburg SWA
08 Jun 1974 32 Flank Britain Lose: 3-12 Newlands, Cape Town SWA
22 Jun 1974 32 Flank Britain Lose: 9-28 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria SWA
13 Jul 1974 32 Flank Britain Lose: 9-26 Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth SWA
27 Jul 1974 32 Flank Britain Draw: 13-13 Ellispark, Johannesburg SWA
23 Nov 1974 32 Flank France Win: 13-4 Stade Municipal, Toulouse SWA
30 Nov 1974 32 Flank France Win: 10-8 Parc des Princes, Paris SWA
24 Jul 1976 34 Flank New Zealand Win: 16-7 Kingspark, Durban Tvl

Jan Ellis : Doc Craven
Jan Ellis : 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.

Obituary: Jan Ellis : Peter Martin
One of South Africa’s greatest rugby players, loose forward Jan Hendrik Ellis, died in a Pretoria hospice on Friday, February 8th, 2013.

He was born in Brakpan on January 5th 1942 and was 71 years old at the time of his death from cancer.

He first represented South West Africa (now Namibia) and lived in the sheep and cattle farming town Gobabis, close to the Botswana border. He later captained South West Africa schools.

He represented SWA at lock against the touring British Lions team of 1962 and then played in the Springbok trials in 1965, winning a place on the tour to Australia and New Zealand that year.

South Africa were in the process of rebuilding after a disastrous tour of Ireland and Scotland earlier that year, and both Tests against Australia on the tour were lost before Ellis made his Test debut against the All Blacks in Wellington, which was lost and extended the Springboks defeats to six in a row. This became seven in the next Test at Dunedin, but South Africa bounced back at Christchurch to win 19-16 after trailing 16-5 at half-time.

The last Test was lost 3-20, and South Africa had lost eight out of their last nine Test matches.

However, things came right in 1967, with France vanquished 2-1 with one match drawn, and in 1968 the series against the Lions was won 3-0 with one draw. France were then beaten 2-0 overseas that same year and Australia were outplayed 4-0 in 1969.

Ellis went on the 1969-70 ‘demo’ tour of the United Kingdom where two Tests (against Scotland and England) were lost and two drawn (against Ireland and Wales). He was injured and unable to play against England, which broke a sequence of 19 Tests in a row for him. He was an outstanding player against the 1970 All Blacks, playing in all four Tests, and was an ever-present Springbok in a further 15 Test matches between 1971 and 1976, finishing with 38 Tests altogether, a record he held with Frik du Preez.

He was always super-fit and formed an outstanding loose-forward partnership with Piet Greyling on the other flank.

Greyling was the fetcher while Ellis, often running with the ball in one hand, was the attacking one of the duo.

A fiery red-headed man, he weighed 97.5kg during his career and stood 1.85m high.

Ellis was ranked as an all-time Springbok great and was one of the outstanding loose forwards of his era.

"Our condolences go to Jan's family and his friends," said Saru president Oregan Hoskins. "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," said Hoskins.

Ellis played in 74 matches for the Springboks and scored 21 points (seven tries) in Test matches.

- Peter Martin

Jan Ellis : Eddie Grieb & Stuart Farmer
Jan Hendrik Ellis was born in the Transvaal but lived in South West Africa since childhood. He made his first-class debut for South West Africa (now Namibia) on 12 June 1962 against the British Lions at lock, but his rugby career for South West Africa had been turbulent and controversial. Bluntly outspoken, he was often at loggerheads with the selectors and rugby administrators and they in turn, struck back by not considering him for the provincial side on several occasions. That is why he only played in 50 games for his province from 1962 to 1974.

He made his international debut in 1965 on the disastrous tour to New Zealand, but played in all four tests. In the 1967 series against France, Ellis and Piet Greyling began the flank partnership that lasted for 25 tests. It was generally regarded that they formed the best combination in world rugby at the time. Ellis and Greyling complemented each other perfectly. From the start of the partnership Greyling fitted naturally into the less spectacular but no less effective tighter role, leaving the faster, more powerful Ellis to do the roving. They reached their peak against the 1970 All Blacks. Fit, fast and fearless, they controlled the loose ball and completely disrupted the All Black's pattern. Jan Ellis scored 32 tries for the Springboks in 74 matches (7 tries in 38 tests) but the most spectacular of the 32 tries was the one he scored against the Barbarians in the last game of the 1969-70 tour in the United Kingdom. This try is described by Chris Greyvensten: 'Twelve minutes to go and the ball rolls loose 40 metres from the Barbarian's goal. Swooping down on it is Jan Ellis, the red haired flank from South West Africa. The ball is scooped up in one easy-flowing, almost casual, movement and then he is off in that loping, long striding run of his. Two defenders are brushed aside with a flip of the shoulder and a sway of the hips. Another one is beaten with an all but imperceptible change of pace. Now the ball is clutched in one big, freckled hand and running with perfect balance on the soft green turf, Ellis sidesteps free of the cover defence with only Mike Gibson, Ireland's outstanding centre, between him and the try-line. A feint as if to pass and Gibson goes the wrong way as Ellis thunders past him to score one of the greatest tries in the history of international rugby without a finger being laid on him on his weaving 40 meter run.'

Ellis's seven tries equalled the record of Ferdie Bergh for a forward, and was the record until Mark Andrews broke it in 1997. He also equalled Frik du Preez's record of 38 test matches for South Africa in 1976 and this was the record until it was surpassed by James Small in 1997.

Jan Ellis : Terry McLean
Jan Hendrik Ellis rugby-wise came from “about as far as you can go”. He was brought up in South-West Africa some 300 miles from Windhoek and his nearest rugby club was at least 60 miles from the farm. Jan never had occasion to think of rugby as a sport until round about the time of the visit of the All Blacks of 1960 to Windhoek.

By the time of the 1965 Springbok trials Ellis had had only about five years of rugby and it took discernment on the part of the selectors to judge that he had the talent to be a Springbok. In the early days of the tour Jan had speed but was a bit of a joke to his team mates but while he may have lacked experience he had the physique, drive and aggression for a top class international loose forward. By the end of the tour it wouldn’t be fair to assert that he was on his way to greatness but it would be right to say that was beginning to get the hang of tactical play. With that speed and that physique, Jan Ellis promised to become the greatest player in the history of South-West Africa.

Jan Ellis : McLook
Jan Ellis personifies Springbok rugby. It has been said that as humans we think in pictures. When we think of something we see a picture of some sorts and this picture can differ from one person to the next, which is why we sometimes voice the same words but come up with different understanding or meaning. The best communicators are those who can create clear and vivid pictures in the mind of his listeners.

When I think of Springbok rugby I see Jan Ellis. Hard, uncompromising, fast with a touch of artistic moodiness and flair but with relentless motivation to succeed based on a staunch work ethic and absolute conviction of what is right and wrong – that is Jan Ellis in a nutshell.

So, I don’t see all that, I just see pictures of Jan Ellis flashing through my mind.

The analogy between the Springboks and Jan Ellis came along probably because I had so many pictures of Jan Ellis when I started with my sampling of rugby pictures in 1970. I was born in Windhoek, South West Africa (now Namibia) and Jan was SWA’s second Springbok, the first being Sias Swart.

Jan was bigger than life in South West Africa and could do nothing wrong in our eyes. In fact when he was dropped by the national selectors after 11 years and 38 consecutive Test matches, in 1976, my father stopped supporting the Springboks in that series against the All Blacks. “I hope they lose so that those damn selectors can put Jan Ellis back in the team” was his exact words.

Jan was not perfect, he had some flaws like all of us. His biggest flaw probably his temper. ‘Vuilgat’ (dirty) Jan was so re-knowned for his short fuse that film-maker Jamie Uys even pulled a candid camera prank on Jan while Ellis was still living in Namibia in the early 70's. The camera crew mounted a car hooter against the pavement just a few paces from a traffic light which ‘Rooi Jan’ frequented daily on his way to work.

Patiently they waited about 5 days for a red light to force Jan to stop long enough for a car to pull-up behind him. Three hoots had Jan looking -annoyed and angrily- over his shoulder at the innocent victim in the car behind. It took two more hoots to see Jan storming out of his car, plucking the surprised little fellow out of his car and threaten him with a raised fist. Jan was on the brink of shoving his huge right paw down the little fellow’s throat when the film crew intervened to save the poor man who was pleading innocence at the top of his voice.

Jan didn’t think it was funny and was not prepared to laugh about it – as most of us will. Realising what transpired he turned around got in his car and drove off without saying a word.

There was also an incident during the 1969 / 1970 End Of Year Tour when Jan couldn’t take old Avril Malan’s insults and whinging anymore (the team was struggling and Malan was giving it to them calling them gutless and what not). He packed his bags, got into the train heading for the airport. It took some convincing and a promise by some senior players that they’ll keep Malan away from him to stop a fired-up Jan Ellis from boarding a plane back to South Africa.

Jan was a reserved, quiet and fiercely private man who did not suffer fools lightly. In 1976 there was an attempt to use him for window dressing by having him captaining a multi-racial South African XV team against New Zealand. Jan declined the invitation to captain a side consisting of 11 whites, 2 coloureds and 2 blacks on the basis that he had flue.

However, a few hours after the match the media honed in on a story that Jan had declined on racial reasons. A scoop on the story was keenly sought after and media men from every imaginable newspaper, magazine as well as radio and television stations started to pester Ellis and his wife at home. Goaded, Rooi Jan exploded. He had, he said, nothing more to say. In his mind the situation was ‘finish and klaar’ and that was the end of it.

In a pure rugby sense, Jan is remembered for the way he carried the ball in one hand as can be seen in the picture below, which was taken when he played for Transvaal against the 1976 All Blacks.

Jan is also remembered for his partnership with Piet Greyling. Some scribes have argued over the years that the way he and Greyling dominated the breakdowns was one of the primary reasons why the Sprinboks won the 1970 series against the All Blacks.

Ellis is furthermore remembered for his work ethic and his contrasting running styles when he chased and ran with the ball. Stories are told of Jan’s training regime, with rocks in the mountains and storm water ravines surrounding Windhoek. His fitness, agility, speed and his arm and leg strength is alleged to be a consequence of running up and down the mountain slopes carrying sizable rocks during the heat of the day.

During the 1965 tour the New Zealand rugby scribes were all much impressed with his speed and commitment to training while admitting that he was still very much a newbie in the process of getting the hang of tactical plays and demands of defensive play of loose forwards. Jan was a quick learner though and by the end of that tour he had cemented his place in the Springbok side and by 1970 he had learned enough to influence the outcome of that series with his defensive and tactical endeavours around the park.

Such was his natural strength though that when he got shot during a robbery at age 58, he seized the gun bearing robber and carried him something like fifteen metres to the his garage office and held onto him while phoning the police and kept him down on the ground -bleeding profusely- until the police arrived.

Ellis had a distinctive forward leaning running style when chasing and was deceptively fast on the chase with those long forward-leaning loping strides.

When carrying the ball he was more upright and on his toes. This upright style and his natural speed off the mark provided him with a devastating sidestep that could send the South African fans into a frenzied overenthusiastic applause that baffled some of the international scribes on occasion. During the last match of the 1969 / 1970 End Of Year Tour, Ellis used this sidestep with good effect against the Barbarians to score two brilliant tries. The picture below shows Jan Ellis on his toes just before he started sidestepping his way through and past the ring of defenders surrounding him in the photograph to score his second try in that match. This try is described by Chris Greyvenstein as follows:

‘Twelve minutes to go and the ball rolls loose 40 metres from the Barbarian’s goal. Swooping down on it is Jan Ellis, the red haired flank from South West Africa. The ball is scooped up in one easy-flowing, almost casual movement and then he is off in that loping, long striding run of his. Two defenders are brushed aside with a flip of the shoulder and a sway of the hips. Another one is beaten with an all but imperceptible change of pace. Now the ball is clutched in one big, freckled hand and running with perfect balance on the soft green turf, Ellis sidesteps free of the cover defence with only Mike Gibson, Ireland’s outstanding centre, between him and the try-line. A feint as if to pass and Gibson goes the wrong way as Ellis thunders past him to score one of the greatest tries in the history of international rugby without a finger being laid on him on his weaving 40 meter run.’

He was a prolific try scorer and one of the top try scorers in the team during the 1971 tour to Australia, notching up eight tries. He scored 10 tries during the 1965 tour to Australia and New Zealand and 6 tries during the 1969 / 1970 End Of Year Tour to the United Kingdom. Jan Ellis scored 32 tries for the Springboks in 74 matches (7 tries in 38 tests).

Jan Ellis : Chris Schoeman
Known all round as an extremely fit player, Jan Ellis was all over the park for the full 80 minutes. Jan could run, and he was strong and a great ball carrier - characteristically clutching it in one hand - and could step like a back - as the Barbarians discovered on the 1969/70 Springbok tour of the UK.

The freckle-faced flanker was exceptional in the sense that he made a name for himself playing for South West Africa (Namibia) far away from the main centres of South African rugby. But he was so gifted that he became a Springbok out of South West Africa, and played for South Africa for a long time, from 1965 to 1974; in fact, scoring 32 tries in his 71 matches (including 38 Tests) for the Boks. That's remarkable for any international loose forward.

And when he toured Argentina with Dawie de Villiers's Gazelles side in 1966, he scored 18 tries in only 10 games on tour, earning him the name 'El Try Hombre' by the locals. Introverted yet outspoken, Jan was a man for the wide expanse of the South West African landscape, a lone wolf who preferred his own company to that of his teammates and who often shied away from post-match functions.

In 2000 he became one of South Africa's terrible crime statistics when he was badly wounded in the stomach by robbers. He fought for his life in hospital, and his very strong constitution enabled him to survive. Whether that incident took some years of off his life one will never know, but he passed away on 8 February 2013.

‘Rooi Duiwel’ Namibië se beste rugbyspeler ooit : Michael Green
Jan Ellis, die grootste rugbyheld wat Namibië nog opgelewer het, het “bont vingers” gehad en sy hande was “ ’n wonderwerk”.

Só praat Frik du Preez, Suid-Afrika se Rugbyspeler van die Eeu, oor Ellis, saam met wie hy in baie toetse vir die Springbokke gespeel het.

In daardie jare het Namibië – wat Saterdag in Japan in die Wêreldbeker-toernooi teen die Bokke speel – nog as Suidwes-Afrika bekend gestaan.

Ellis was destyds as die “Rooi Duiwel” bekend. En dit was nie net omdat hy rooierige hare gehad het nie.

Hy was glo ’n regte korrelkop, wat gereeld met ander spelers en veral met beamptes vasgesit het.

Hy word deur oud-spanmaats as ’n alleenloper beskryf, wat nie graag onthale bygewoon het nie. “Op toer gaan ek vroeg bed toe nes ek by die huis sou gedoen het en die enigste vorm van rekreasie wat my kan ophou, is ’n goeie film of ’n interessante boek,” het Ellis op ’n keer gesê.

Tog was die “bruusk” en “ongeduldige” speler by sy spanmaats gewild en word hy deur Du Preez as een van die beste Bokke van alle tye beskou.

“Elke slag as ek daardie paar bont vingers hier naby my gesien het, het ek geweet daar’s nou dinge aan die kom. Die man se hande is mos ’n wonderwerk. As jy hulle so bekyk, lyk hulle nes twee geslagte hoenders. Maar, boeta, kan hy hulle gebruik!” sê Du Preez.

“Laat ek jou reguit vertel, daar was in my speeljare nie beter nie en ek glo nie ons sal gou weer iets soos dié klong kry nie. Hoe en waar hy soms die bol in die hande gekry het, weet ek nie. Maar as jy sy hande bekyk – en ek ken daardie hande goed – dan weet jy waarom hy so goed gehanteer het.”

In sy speeldae was dit ’n bekende toneel om Ellis te sien hardloop met die bal in die een hand.

Daar was mense wat gedink het hy speel té los, maar Du Preez raak sommer omgekrap as hy dit hoor.

“Ek het hom as Springbok ’n klomp drieë sien druk wat geen ander speler sou gekry het nie. Hy het alles gehad – hande, voete, vaart, voorgevoel en krag. Wat meer wil jy hê?” vra Du Preez.

Ellis het in 38 toetse vir die Bokke gespeel, waarin hy sewe drieë gedruk het. In die altesaam 74 keer wat hy vir die Bokke in aksie was, het hy 32 drieë gedruk. Twee daarvan was op 31 Januarie 1970 teen die Britse Barbarians op Twickenham in Londen, Engeland.

Gerhard Viviers, wat destyds ’n kommentator was, beskryf die tweede een in sy boek Rugby agter die doringdraad. . “(Johann) Van der Merwe het die beweging begin, (Mike) Lawless het handjie bygesit en Jan Ellis het gehardloop. As Jan Ellis hardloop, lyk dit of hy lui-stadig beweeg, maar in werklikheid is dit vinnige, lang, kragtige hale. Nieteenstaande die feit dat hy dertig treë moet hardloop, was daar nie veel kans om meer as net Jannie, Jannie, Jannie in die kommentaarhokkie te sê nie.

“Hy het die een Barbarian ná die ander met slim rigtingveranderings geklop en weer was dit in ’n drie in die hoek,” skryf Viviers.

Ellis was ’n fiksheidsfanatikus. Hy het aan die rugbyskrywer Chris Greyvenstein vertel dat hy elke jaar op sy verjaardag, 5 Januarie, begin oefen het. In die oggend het hy twee myl gaan hardloop en ná werk (hy was ’n sakeman) was dit vier myl.

Ellis het in Windhoek gewoon en hy het daar in die heuwels geoefen. “Daar is nie iets soos draf nie, dis ’n ware uithoutoets teen die stophorlosie,” het Ellis, wat dan ook groot klippe rondgedra het, gesê.

Iewers het ’n spotprentekenaar destyds ’n prent geteken wat in die geheue vassteek: Dit was van ’n Boesman wat oor ’n duin hardloop en dan staan daar iemand en vra: “Is dit Jan Ellis?”

Die Bokke se lostrio het daardie tyd gereeld uit Jan Ellis, Piet Greyling en Tommy Bedford bestaan. Nou was Jan kwansuis die een wat rondgehardloop het (partykeer oor ’n skrumskakel wat ’n duikaangee gedoen het se rug), Greyling was die een wat die donkiewerk gedoen het en Bedford die skakel met die agterlyn.

Maar soos Du Preez sê, het Ellis ook losballe gewen en hy kon jou met sy verdediging seermaak. Vra maar net die Walliese losskakel Barry John, wie se toer saam met die Britse en Ierse Leeus in 1968 deur Suid-Afrika deur Ellis beëindig is.

“Ek het ’n fout gemaak. Ek het nie met Ellis se verskriklike vaartversnelling en vasberadenheid rekening gehou nie. Ek was van sy skaduwee bewus, van sy asem en sy donderende voete. Ek het instinktief versnel en toe skielik spoed verminder om hom te probeer verwar. Dit het amper gewerk,” skryf John in sy outobiografie. Ongelukkig vir hom het Ellis “een vinger” by sy trui se kraag ingehaak gekry en hom omgepluk. John het gehoor hoe die bene kraak toe hy op sy skouer val.

Dawie de Villiers, wat die kaptein was in die meeste toetse waarin Ellis gespeel het, sê dié flank kon “soos enige agterspeler met die bal hardloop en netjies systap”.

En dr. Danie Craven, wat vir jare Suid-Afrika se rugbybaas was, het gesê “net ’n baie begaafde speler” kan uitstyg as hy nie vir een van die groot rugbyunies in die land speel nie.

Toe Ellis nog vir Suidwes gespeel het, het dié land nog in Suid-Afrika se Curriebeker-reeks meegeding. Die Rooi Duiwel het, terloops, soms ook vir die Biltongboere (soos Suidwes ook bekend was) pale toe geskop.

Ellis het eers in die laaste twee jaar van sy speeldae (1975 en 76) Suidwes verlaat en vir Transvaal (nou die Goue Leeus) gaan speel.

“Sy vasbeslotenheid en talent het hom ’n Springbok laat word,” het Craven gesê.

Ellis is op 22 Desember 2000 in sy maag geskiet in ’n rooftog by sy petrolstasie net buite Rayton in Noordoos-Gauteng. Een van sy niere moes verwyder word in die noodoperasie wat op hom uitgevoer is, maar die Rooi Duiwel het oorleef.

Hy is op 5 Februarie 2013 in die ouderdom van 71 weens kanker oorlede.

Jan, Jan, Jan die bielie van Suidwes : Daan Botha
Rugbyspelers moet sommer van die eersteklas-stoffasie wees as hulle die Springbokspan wil haal – veral as hulle boonop in een van die swakker provinsiale spanne speel.

Dis te verstane. In ons voorstye rugbypriovinsies speel die manne nie alleen in sterk klubspanne teen ander sterkes in die liga nie, maar hulle verkeer ook in die provinsiale wedstryde in die geselskap van bo-gemiddelde spelers wat help om hul talente op die voorgrond te stoot.

In provinsiale spanne wat ‘n bietjie sukkel, is dit anders: Daar moet ‘n man baie knap wees as hy teen die sterk opposisie so ‘n indruk wil maak dat die keurders sy naam neerskrywe en hom later naderroep om in groter geselskap te speel.

So ‘n kêrel is Jan Ellis van Suidwes. ‘n Groot, sterkgeboude kêrel met roesbruin hare en ‘n vuur en afgerondheid op die rugbyveld wat sy naam gou laat gons het waar hy die afgelope seisoen of wat met die Suidwes-span in ander kontreie gaan speel het.

Die keurders het ook gou van hom notisie geneem en dit was al wat Jan wou hé – die res het hy in die proefwedstryde in goeie geselskap en daarteen getoon. Dat hy ‘n Springbok sou word, was ‘n uitgemaakte saak.

Ek sal Ellis se indrukwekknde stormlope tydens die proewe van verlede jaar en vroeg hierdie jaar op Nuweland en Wellington nie lig vergeet nie. Die feitlik onbekende, sover die provinsiale spelers betref, het gou bekend geword.

Sy lang, kragtige tree, sy systappe en hanteerwerk was so goed soos die beste en beter as die meeste losvoorspelers op die proewe. Hy was vining en het ‘n manier gehad om die bal sommer in die een hand soos ‘n brood te dra terwyl hy sy teenstanders met die ander hand weggekeer het.

As ‘n mens deur sy rugbyloopbaan blaai, kom jy gou agter waarom hy so behendig op die veld is en boonop ook puik kan skop. Hy het lank heelagter gespeel - plus in elke posisie in die skrum!

Voor die hierdie huidige toer het kenners gesê dat Jan net ‘n lang toer soos hierdie nodig het om hom een van ons beste losvoorpelers te maak. En hy is tans daadwerklik besig om daardie menings te onderstreep.

Hy speel in die nat toestande van Nieu-Seeland, al is hy aan die drieë, harde velde van Suidwes gewoond. Al is Jan nie in Suidwes gebore nie, kan Suidwes-Afrika met reg aanspraak daarop maak dat hy sy rugbyproduk is aangesien hy eers daar begin speel en as speler ontwikkel het.

Jan Hendrik Ellis op 5 Januarie 1942 te Brakpan, Transvaal gebore. Hy was op Oudtshoorn en Naauwpoort op laerskool en daarna van standerd sewe tot matriek in Gobabis.

Hierdie stillerige, maar werklik aangename persoonlikheid, het onlangs voor die huidige toer aan my vertel dat hy in standerd agt begin rugby speel het. “Ek het eers as haker begin en dadelik in die eerste span. Die volgende jaar het ons skool in Namakwaland gaan toer waar ek heelagter gespeel het,” vertel hy.

Daarna het Jan gedurende sy skoolloopbaan in ‘n verbasende aantal verskillende posisies gespeel; losskakel, heelagter, voorry, flank en slot!

Toe 1961 in matriek was, was hy kaptein van Suidwes se skolespan en gedurende sy matriekjaar het hy ook gereeld vir Gobabis se eerstespan heelagter gespeel. Die skoolseun het daardie jaar boonop die Sentraal Subuniespan gehaal.

Sommer die volgende seisoen was Jan in die Suidwes-span, teen die Britse Leeus in 1962. Sederdien speel hy gereeld vir Suidwes – behalwe 1963 toe hy in Pretoria werksaam was en Noord-Transvaal se tweedespan gehaal het.

In 1964 het Jan werklik op dreef gekom en en baie aandag gterek waar ookal hy gespeel het. Die gevolg was dat hy uitgenooi is om vir die SA Barbarians te speel.

Jan se kop was nou deur – die keurders het van sy spel gehou en hy is na die proefwedstryd op Nuweland genooi en hy het die kortlys met die oog op die toer na Ierland en Skotland gehaal.

Hy was weer by die proewe op Wellington en almal het verwag dat hy die span sou haal, maar sy naam is nie die aand in die saal afgelees nie. Hy het wel vir die SA XV-tal in Rhodesië plek gekry.

Tydens die latere proewe op Nuweland het hy hom egter in die Springbokspan ingespeel.

En die klubs vir wie hy reeds uitgedraf het? “Ek het vanaf 1959-61 vir Gobabis gespeel,” vertel Jan. “In 1962 het ek vir Otjiwarongo gespeel en die volgende jaar vir die Pretoria-klub. Sederdien is ek lid van die Unitedklub in Windhoek.”

Jan, wat ses voet een en ‘n half duim lank is, en 215 ponds weeg, beskik oor daardie wonderlike kombinasie – spoed en gewig. Hy is ook ‘n man met ’n lang asem” wat volkome fiks bly en ‘n wedstryd tot met die eindfluitjie voluit speel. Diegene wat al saam met hom gespeel het, vertel dat Jan ‘n eerlike speler is wat sy gewig soos min kantmanne in die skrum gooi.

Sy lang asem, om dit so uit te druk, hou hy seker oor uit die dae toe hy ‘n halfmylloper op skool was. Hy was een jaar ‘n interskole-kampioen in die Onder 19-afdeling.

Verder is hy ook ‘n kêrel wat hom in die somer met tennis fiks hou. Op die oog af lyk hy maar so sedig, vertel sy vriende. Jan is ‘n opperste platjie. Hy het nouwel rooierige hare, maar hy is glad nie humeurig nie.

Hy is nog ‘n vrygesel, maar hy laat weet dat hy trouplanne het sodra hy van die toer terugkeer – maar hy las nie die nooi se name by nie…

Jan het vier broers en vier susters. Behalwe rugby stel ook in boks belang. Sy weduwee moeder, Hester Ellis, woon tans op Gobabis.

“Ek onthou baie goed hoe groot Jan my vanjaar op Nuweland tydens die proewe laat skrik het. Hy het ‘n ernstige ribbesering op die laaste dag opgedoen en moes die veld verlaat.

Daarna het van die verskriklike pyn op die paviljoen flou geword en hulle moes hom op ‘n draagbaar daar wegdra en ons manne in die persbank het benoud geraak toe hy hier langs ons verbygedra word. Gelukkig het hy gou van die besering herstel en kon hy die toer meemaak.

In dieselfde proewe het Jan ‘n drie gedruk wat van sy krag en vasberadenheid getuig het. Hy het pragtig aan die beweging deelgeneem en die bal ‘n stuk of drie keer gehanteer voordat hy rieme neergelê het doellyn toe. ‘n Tree of tien van die lyn af is hy platgeduik, maar hy het weer opgespring maar het met drie man op sy rug oor die lyn gebeur vir sy drie.

Jan voel egter meer trots op die drie wat hy as lid van die SA Barbarians op Ellispark gedruk het. “Dit was my eerste wedstryd op die veld wat ‘n vangenoot van my is,” vertel hy glimlaggend.

Die speler wat voor die huidige toer die grootste indruk op hom gemaak het, was Frik du Preez sê hy. “Ek sal nooit sy uitstekende lynstaanwerk en puik spel vergeet toe ek die eerste keer in 1962 vir Suidwes teen Noord-Transvaal gespeel het nie.”

Jan, wat soos ek gesê het, nooit lyf wegsteek nie, vertel dat hy stellig op die huidige toer nie so pootuit sal raak soos die baie taai klubwedstryd tussen United en Talpark verlede jaar op die Suidwes-stadion nie. “Ek was vyf weke na die wedstryd nog krank.”

In die jaar wat hy in Pretoria gespeel het, het hy hom eendag verskriklik op die veld geskaam. “Dit was tydens die Noord-Transvaalse proewe. Ek was omtrent net tien tree van die doellyn af toe trap so wraggies vas en skepskop pale toe! Dit was boonop reguit na die hoekvlag…”

Jan kan darem beter as dit skop. Hy het verlede jaar 114 punte vir sy klub aangeteken en die meeste daarvan was met sy skoen. Hy skop gereeld vir sy klub en Suidwes.

Sy skoppery laat Jan altyd dink aan ‘n skop wat hom in Windhoek verbaas het. “Klappies Louw, die slot van Talpark, stel eendag die bal in sy eie gebied om ‘n strafskop pale toe te mik. Ons lag want ons verwag nie dat hy dit gaan oorkry nie. Maar ou Klappies draai om en hy stap sommer so van die bal af weg tot diep in sy eie gebied. Hy gaan staan, veeg die sweet van sy gesig af en hy draai om en bestorm die bal van daar ver af. Die bal het hoog en suiwer deur die pale getrek!”

Baie het Jan al aangeraai om hom in die Kaap of Transvaal te vestig om in ‘n sterker provinsie rugby te speel, maar hieroor sê hy: “Ek het Suidwes leer liefkry. Die mense daar is baie gaaf en gasvry. Die lewe is nie so gejaagd soos in die res van die Republiek nie. Jan Ellis verkies die rustige lewe behalwe op die rugbyveld. Dan raak hy haastig.

Springbok legend Ellis dies : News24.com
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 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.
SI Springbok TOP 100 - Jan Ellis #34 : sport24.co.za
Another outspoken Springbok, Jan Ellis’ comments often attracted attention for the wrong reasons. However, on the rugby field he formed a legendary flank partnership with Piet Greyling that lasted for 25 tests. Of the two, Ellis was the faster more powerful, roving flank, and his record of seven tries in 38 tests (for a forward) stood until Mark Andrews broke it in 1997
Jan Ellis se hande was sy beste wapen : Karin Burger & Stephen Nell
Sy groot hande, deursettingsvermoë, fiksheid en natuurlike aanvoeling vir die spel is wat oudspanmaats van die rugby­legende Jan Ellis (71) onthou.

Die oud-Springbokflank het Vrydag sy 18 maande lange stryd teen beenmurgkanker verloor.

Ellis, een van die beste rugbyspelers wat Suid-Afrika tot nog toe opgelewer het, het 74 keer die Groen-en-goud gedra.

Van 1965 tot 1976 het hy in 38 toetse gespeel.

“Ek kan nog ons laaste toets saam in 1969 op Twickenham onthou,” vertel die oud-Bok-senter Mannetjies Roux.

“Dit was die Springbokke teen die Barbarians. Jan het daardie dag twee drieë gaan druk nadat hy die bal met sy een hand opgetel en daarmee gehardloop het.

“Ek het eendag vir hom ’n bal op sy tone gegooi wat hy met die een hand opgepik en onder beheer gebring het.”

Volgens Roux was Ellis “baie in sy dop gekruip weg van die veld”, maar op die rugbyveld “het hy sy ding gedoen”.

Vir Jannie Engelbrecht was Ellis se uitstaande kenmerke sy absolute toewyding en fiksheid.

“As ons as span geoefen het, het hy die pas aangegee. Nadat ons klaar was, het hy nog aangegaan.”

Engelbrecht beskryf sy oud-spanmaat as ’n bietjie van ’n individualis; “maar ’n mens moet aanvaar party mense verskil van ander”.

Engelbrecht sê die destydse leerballe het soms “moeilik gehanteer, veral as dit nat was.

Maar Jan kon daardie bal met sy een hand optel en daarmee hardloop.”

Die voormalige Springbok-agterspeler Gert Brynard som Ellis in twee woorde op: “Wonderlike rugbyspeler”.

“Voor toetse moes ons soggens 14 keer om twee rugbyvelde hardloop. Jan het dit altyd vir ons baie moeilik gemaak, want hy het vooruit gehardloop.”

Vir die oud-Bokkaptein Hannes Marais was Ellis “’n besonderse mens, ’n fenomenale speler en ’n spanman”.

Ellis, sê hy, was ’n ongekend aanvallende speler wat teenstanders kon systap en afstamp.

Hy en Piet Greyling het ’n gedugte kombinasie gevorm en dié twee het mekaar goed aangevul.

“Hy was ook baie taai. In 1965 is Jan met ’n gebreekte rib en al Nieu-Seeland toe. Hy het dit voor wedstryde in die aantrekkamer verbind en niks gesê nie.”

John Gainsford beklemtoon ook Ellis se hardwerkendheid op die oefenveld.

Die oud-Boksenter sê Ellis is aanvanklik gekritiseer omdat hy met die bal in een hand gehardloop het – afrigters het gevrees hy gaan die bal aanslaan of laat val – maar hy het hom nie daaraan gesteur nie en dit dwarsdeur sy loopbaan gedoen.

Ellis was volgens Gainsford ’n alleenloper en baie stil mens.

Ellis word oorleef deur sy vrou, Heila, twee kinders, Petro Olivier en Jan Ellis, en vyf kleinkinders.

Sketch in 1969 SA vs Midland Counties programme
ELLIS, Jan Hendrik. Flank forward. 6ft. 1½in., 15st. 5lb. Born in Brakpan 5/1/1943. Has represented South West Africa since 1962 as flank forward, lock forward and eighth man. Also captained the provincial team in recent years. Eighteen international caps since 1965. Represented Gazelles, S.A. Country and S.A. Barbarians. Business executive. Married, two children.