Not many rugby siblings, though, have met face-to-face in the exact same position.
This was the case for the Nel brothers, Ruhan (24) and Jacques (22), when the Griquas played the Lions at Ellis Park, in the Absa Currie Cup, on Saturday, October 10.
The former Hoërskool Brandwag pupils both donned the number 13 jerseys in the clash, which ended at 29-19 in favour of the Lions team, a match in which Jacques would cross the whitewash on two occasions in his first starting Currie Cup game for the union.
Speaking to the City Times, the younger of the Nel brothers said that they had played each other before, in the Varsity Cup, Jacques for UJ and Ruhan for Wits, but Saturday was the first time they had faced off in the same position.
Ruhan said he experienced “mixed emotions” in the lead-up to the encounter.
“It’s a strange feeling to know that you are coming up against your brother, but when game day arrived I decided to just take it as it comes.”
Jacques explained that the two went out for dinner the night before and agreed that there would be no love lost for the full 80 minutes and that peace would be made after the bumps and bruises of the game.
Ruhan said: “I know what kind of player my brother is and that if I got the ball early on he wouldn’t hesitate to take me on and tackle me.
“I knew that he would keep me busy, and he did just that.”
Jacques was equally full of praise for his older brother and used the word “determined” to describe him.
“He has so much willpower and puts in everything he has to reach his goals.
“Ruhan has always been someone I have looked up to in rugby and life,” he said.
Of Jacques’ two tries in Saturday’s match, Ruhan said: “When he scored his second try I just went back to the poles and laughed.
“I am really proud of him, he really deserves it.”
Asked what the atmosphere was like in the Nel family ahead of the match, Jacques added: “The moment my father [Adriaan] heard that we would be playing against each other I could see that he was having mixed emotions and wondering who to support.
“He told us that the family would support us both and cheer whenever either of us touched the ball.
“A lot of brothers in rugby play against each other at some point, but to play against each other in the same position was truly something special.
“Afterwards we spoke about the game and the season.
“We laughed and enjoyed the moment.”
For Ruhan, the Currie Cup season with the Griquas has come to an end and he will join up with the Blitzbokke in the upcoming weeks, ahead of the Cape Town and Dubai Sevens series, while Jacques will be hoping that his excellent display sees him in the Lions mix for Saturday’s semi-final against the Cheetahs.
