 He made three appearances in a disappointing season for NMMU as they finish second-last in the competition, scoring one try in their 46–33 victory over .In March 2016, Nieuwoudt was included in a 56-man South Africa Under-20 training squad as the team prepared for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship, but was not named in a 36-man provisional squad named a week later.Serious financial problems at the at the end of 2015 saw a number of first team regulars leave the union and Nieuwoudt was among a number of youngsters that were promoted to the squad that competed in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series.