Former rugby referee’s 83rd birthday celebrated
The 83-year-old has a passion for rugby and has been blowing for clubs in and around Gauteng for over 20 years.
Roodepoort Sentrum Vir Bejaardes recently celebrated a birthday milestone. André Nel is a rugby referee who has spent more than 20 years of his life refereeing for clubs in Johannesburg.
The 83-year-old grew up in Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth), where he attended high school at Hoërskool Pearson. He would later go on to become a technician at the post office before moving to the West Rand.
André spent almost his whole life in Gqeberha before he discovered his passion for rugby. He started as a referee for the Eastern Province rugby club where he fell in love with the sport and went on to referee for various other clubs.
Although he had never been married, he met a woman around 1976 with whom he had three children; one son and two daughters as well as four grandchildren.
