About Hennie van Zyl
Lived 1936 – 2025 (aged 89). Hennie van Zyl was a rugby union player.
Hendrik Jacobus van Zyl (31 January 1936 – 1 December 2025) was a South African rugby union player.
Born on a farm outside of Ventersdorp, van Zyl learnt his rugby while in boarding school. He was a winger known for his long strides and made his provincial debut for Transvaal in 1959.
Van Zyl was capped in 10 Tests for the Springboks, scoring two tries on debut to help them to a win over New Zealand at Ellis Park in 1960. On the 1960–61 tour of Europe, van Zyl played in three of the Tests, before having to return home as his father had been killed in a lightning strike. He scored a hat-trick against Australia in his second last Test match.
In 1962, van Zyl left the Springboks to play rugby league.
Van Zyl died on 1 December 2025, at the age of 89. Until his death, he had been the second-oldest living Springbok, after Frik du Preez.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Hennie van Zyl?
rugby player
When was Hennie van Zyl born?
Hennie van Zyl was born on 31 January 1936.
When did Hennie van Zyl die?
Hennie van Zyl died on 1 December 2025.
What was Hennie van Zyl's occupation?
Hennie van Zyl was a rugby union player.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Hennie van Zyl. https://biography.guide/hennie-van-zyl/
MLA: "Hennie van Zyl." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/hennie-van-zyl/.
Chicago: "Hennie van Zyl." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/hennie-van-zyl/.
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