Jacobus Paulus (JP) Nel (born 9 January 1981) is a former South African rugby union footballer, who regularly played as a centre. He made his first class debut for Western Province in 2000 and made almost two hundred first class appearances between 2000 and 2013. He played for the Blue Bulls in the domestic Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions and for the Bulls in Super Rugby between 2001 and 2009 and had two seasons at NTT Communications Shining Arcs in the Japanese Top League and a further two seasons for Griquas in the Currie Cup. He retired after the 2013 Currie Cup season.