Nelson Ball (rugby union)
Nelson in 1935 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 11 October 1908 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Foxton, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 9 May 1986 (aged 77) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Durban, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Feilding Agricultural High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Murray Ball (son) Bill Francis (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nelson "Kelly" Ball (11 October 1908 – 9 May 1986) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A wing, Ball represented Wanganui and Wellington at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1931 to 1936. He played 22 matches for the All Blacks including five internationals.
Ball moved to South Africa in 1948 and lived there for the rest of his life. He was the father of New Zealand cartoonist Murray Ball, and a first cousin of Bill Francis, who played for the All Blacks between 1913 and 1914.