He was a key player for the Eastern Province U21 side in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring 71 points in eight appearances.

[7] Van Zyl was included in Eastern Province Kings' senior squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup, making his debut in a 17–13 victory in their Round Four match against Free State XV.

In their match against the Boland Cavaliers, he scored his first career try in a 27–23 win to help the EP Kings finish in third place on the log and qualify for the quarter-finals.

[11] Starting as Fullback in their semi-final match,he sustained a broken jaw early in the game while fielding a high ball which ended in a 13–39 loss to the Pumas in Nelspruit, .

[16] In 2014, Van Zyl played Varsity Cup rugby with the NMMU Madibaz,[17] and had to return to the Eastern Province Kings squad for the 2014 Vodacom Cup, kicking five points in their final Southern Section match against the previously-unbeaten Sharks XV to help the Kings to a 27–11 victory,[18][19] In August 2014, Van Zyl moved to Italy to join National Championship of Excellence side Mogliano Rugby on a two-year contract.

[24] Mogliano finished in third position in the regular season, winning eleven of their eighteen matches to qualify for the title play-off semi-finals.

Van Zyl was the joint-top try scorer with teammate Marco Filippucci in the 2014–2015 National Championship of Excellence, scoring eleven tries.

[31] Van Zyl scored his first Pro14 try against Cardiff Blues,[32] where Zebre claimed a 26–15 bonus point victory.

Pro12 2016–17 season Van Zyl fought his way back to fitness, playing 9 games, 466 minutes, starting 6 and scoring 2 tries for the season,[38] making an immediate impact with his decisive running and excellent fielding under the high ball, scoring a try for Zebre against Benetton Rugby.

[40] Van Zyl brilliantly saved a try against Zebre coming as cross cover in their match against Cardiff Blues in April 2017.

Van Zyl[47] signs with Rugby San Donà di Piave, in the metropolitan city of Venice for the National Championship of Excellence.

[50] Lafert San Donà wins the Final of the Excellence Trophy for 24 to 0, signing a historical result in the record of the Rugby San Donà club and the first Trofeo won by South African trainer Ansell against Fiamme Oro Rugby.

[54] Van Zyl was included by Andy Vilk for the Italian 7's training squad held at Parma in January 2018.

[62] Van Zyl scored two exceptional tries for Kawasaki Robot Calvisano v Rugby Viadana 1970 and is awarded Man of the Match.