Piet J van Zyl
Full names: Pieter Johannes
Date of birth: 23 Jul 1933
Place of birth: Porterville
School: Porterville
Springbok no: 373
Debut test province: Western Province
Physical: 1.93m, 102.1kg
Date of death: 28 May 1988 (Age 54)

Test summary: Tests: 1 Tries: 0
First Test: 13 May 1961 Age:27 Lock against Ireland at Newlands, Cape Town
Last Test: 13 May 1961 Age:27 Lock against Ireland at Newlands, Cape Town
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
13 May 196127LockIrelandWin: 24-8 Newlands, Cape TownWP

Piet van Zyl : Peter Martin

Tall, rangy Piet van Zyl was playing for Boland when he gained selection for the 1960-61 tour of the British Isles and France where he played 16 matches, two of them at flank.

However, he was unable to break into the Test team, with Johan Claassen and the captain Avril Malan carrying on with their successful partnership from the last two Tests of the All Blacks series, but he was one of four new players introduced to the Test scene in the one-off international against Ireland at Newlands in 1961, by which time he was playing for Western Province.

Although South Africa won the match comfortably 24-8, all four new caps – flyhalf Charlie Nimb, centre Colin Greenwood, right wing Ben-Piet van Zyl and Van Zyl, were never selected for South Africa again.

- Peter Martin