Ruben Jacobus Kruger (30 March 1970 – 27 January 2010) was a South African rugby union player. He played as a flanker. He had two daughters Zoë Kruger, Zoë (b. 2002) and Isabella Kruger, Isabella (b. 2005), whose play tennis. Isabella played quarter final on the junior tournament at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships – Girls' singles, 2022 Wimbledon Championships.

Playing career

Provincial

A product of Grey College, Bloemfontein, Grey College in Bloemfontein, Kruger played for the schools team at the annual Craven Week tournament in 1987 and 1988 and gained selection for the South Africa national under-18 rugby union team, South African Schools team in both years. After representing the Free State under-20 team in 1989 and 1990, he made his senior provincial debut for the Free State in 1991. During 1993, Kruger moved to and played for the union until 2000. In 1995 Ruben Kruger was named South African Rugby Football Union's player of the year.

International

Kruger played for the South Africa national rugby union team between 1993 and 1999. He played his first test match for the South Africa national rugby union team, Springboks on 6 November 1993 against Argentina national rugby union team, Argentina at the Estadio Arquitecto Ricardo Etcheverry, Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium in Buenos Aires. In 1995, he played in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Rugby World Cup. During this tournament, he made 5 starts, and scored 1 try, in the controversial semi-final against the France national rugby union team. Kruger also played in the 1999 World Cup and in addition to his 36 test matches, he also played in 20 tour matches and scored 14 tries.

Test history

1995 Rugby World Cup Final, World Cup Final

World Cups

*1995 : world champions, 5 selections (Australia national rugby union team, Wallabies, Romania national rugby union team, Romania, Samoa national rugby union team, Samoa, France national rugby union team, France, New Zealand national rugby union team, All Blacks). *1999 : 2 selections (Spain national rugby union team, Spain, New Zealand national rugby union team, All Blacks).

Later career

At the end of his rugby career, he became a camera salesman. He owned a Minolta franchise in Pretoria. He was portrayed in ''Invictus (film), Invictus'', a film about Nelson Mandela and the 1995 Springboks, by Grant L. Roberts, Grant Roberts.

Death

Kruger died in Pretoria on 27 January 2010 after battling brain cancer for 10 years. He was two months short of his 40th birthday.''www.supersport.com''

References

External links

Site springboks 1996scrum.com statistics
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kruger, Ruben 1970 births 2010 deaths Deaths from cancer in South Africa Deaths from brain tumor Rugby union flankers South Africa international rugby union players South African rugby union players Bulls (rugby union) players Blue Bulls players South Africa international rugby sevens players Free State Cheetahs players Alumni of Grey College, Bloemfontein Rugby union players from the Free State (province)