Ruben Kruger

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 (b. 2002) and Isabella (b. 2005). Isabella played quarter final on the junior tournament at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.

Playing career

Provincial A product of 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 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 Springboks on 6 November 1993 against Argentina at the Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium in Buenos Aires.

In 1995, he played in the 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 World Cup final No. Opposition Result (SA 1st) Position Tries Date Venue 1. 29–26 Flank 6 Nov 1993 Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires 2. 52–23 Flank 13 Nov 1993 Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires 3. 34–10 Flank 19 Nov 1994 Murrayfield, Edinburgh 4. 20–12 Flank 26 Nov 1994 Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff 5. 60–8 Flank 13 Apr 1995 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 6. 27–18 Flank 25 May 1995 Newlands, Cape Town 7. 21–8 Flank 30 May 1995 Newlands, Cape Town 8. 42–14 Flank 10 Jun 1995 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 9. 19–15 Flank 1 17 Jun 1995 Kings Park, Durban 10. 15–12 Flank 24 Jun 1995 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 11. 40–11 Flank 2 Sep 1995 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 12. 40–21 Flank 12 Nov 1995 Stadio Olimpico, Rome 13. 24–14 Flank 18 Nov 1995 Twickenham, London 14. 43–18 Flank 2 Jul 1996 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 15. 16–21 Flank 13 Jul 1996 Sydney Football Stadium (SFG), Sydney 16. 11–15 Flank 20 Jul 1996 AMI Stadium, Christchurch 17. 25–19 Flank 3 Aug 1996 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 18. 18–29 Flank 10 Aug 1996 Newlands, Cape Town 19. 19–23 Flank 17 Aug 1996 Kings Park, Durban 20. 26–33 Flank 1 24 Aug 1996 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 21. 32–22 Flank 31 Aug 1996 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 22. 46–15 Flank 9 Nov 1996 Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires 23. 44–21 Flank 2 16 Nov 1996 Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires 24. 22–12 Flank 30 Nov 1996 Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux 25. 13–12 Flank 7 Dec 1996 Parc des Princes, Paris 26. 37–20 Flank 15 Dec 1996 Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff 27. 74–10 Flank 2 10 Jun 1997 Newlands, Cape Town 28. 16–25 Flank 21 Jun 1997 Newlands, Cape Town 29. British Lions 15–18 Flank 28 Jun 1997 Kings Park, Durban 30. 32–35 Flank 19 Jul 1997 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 31. 20–32 Flank 2 Aug 1997 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 32. 35–55 Flank 1 9 Aug 1997 Eden Park, Auckland 33. 18–34 Flank 7 Aug 1999 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 34. 10–9 Replacement 14 Aug 1999 Newlands, Cape Town 35. 47–3 Flank 10 Oct 1999 Murrayfield, Edinburgh 36. 22–18 Replacement 4 Nov 1999 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

World Cups 1995: world champions, 5 selections (Wallabies, Romania, Samoa, France, All Blacks). 1999: 2 selections (Spain, 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, a film about Nelson Mandela and the 1995 Springboks, by 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.