Nel played for the side in the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition and for in club rugby.
Club rugby Nel signed for
Johannesburg-based side the for 2012 and made his first class debut for them in the
2012 Vodacom Cup match against local rivals the . He played for the side during the
2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship and made another three senior appearances in the
2013 Vodacom Cup. His
Currie Cup debut for the Lions came during the
2013 season, when he came on as a substitute in the 54th minute against the – and scored a try within five minutes of coming on. He represented in the
2015 Currie Cup Premier Division. ==International==