Full name Nélio Andrade de Sá School Grey College Height 1.75 m | Place of birth Beira, Mozambique Spouse Shari Neuhoff-de Sa Weight 117 kg | |
Date of birth (1974-11-12) 12 November 1974 (age 42) University University of Free State Education Grey College, Bloemfontein | ||
Nelio Andrade de Sa (born 12 November 1974) is a South African-Portuguese rugby union player. He played as a prop. He last played for the ASM Clermont Auvergne in Heineken Cup.
His rugby career started after he joined Grey College, where he was the firstPortuguese rugby player.
During school Nelio was picked for the Free State u19 Craven Week side that was held at Secunda.
After school he played for Oud Studente which participated at the Toyota Club Champs in Durban.
In 1995 he joined the Shimlas the 1st Xv Rugby team of University of the Free State where he continued to play till 2000.
Nelio was selected in 1995 to tour to Argentina for the Junior Springboks to represent South Africa for the first time ever at the u20 Sanzar World Tournament.
Nelio was asked to represent Portugal at the World Cup Qualifiers when he was playing for the Free State Cheetahs in 1998. He decided to do so to gain International experience. But the test match at Murayfield was also the cut off for players that could still represent more than one country.
The sudden change in World Rugby rule that only allow you to represent one country made the decision to go play in France easier.
In 2000 Nelio joined French Club Clermont ASM to play in French Premier League & Heineken Cup.
Rugby career ended in neck injury playing for Clermont.