Ruben Kruger Biography

Ruben Kruger was destined for greatness on the rugby field and this was evident from an early age. 

He would go on to become the SA Rugby Player of the Year in 1995, the same year the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup. 

From the moment Ruben Kruger pulled on the Green and Gold - for the first time in 1993 - he was a respected and feared teammate, and opponent. He didn’t say much, but he didn’t have to - his play, work rate and skills did all the talking that was needed.

Ruben Kruger’s most impressive period in the Bok jersey - which he wore on 36 occasions between 1993 and 1999 - came during the 1995 World Cup. He was immense in the five matches he played. Against the Wallabies in the opening game, his hard-tackling and defensive powers came to the fore, while in the knockout stages he delivered three all-round performances that made the world take notice.

After his 80-minutes of tackling in the quarter-final against Western Samoa, he was left with such a sore arm he couldn’t lift it above his shoulders, in the semi-final in the wet of Durban against France he scored a crucial try, and in the final against New Zealand he tackled like a man possessed and carried the ball strongly for the Boks.

Ruben Kruger was a pillar of the team. Only 25 years old in 1995, he was in the prime of his career - the immovable object and the unstoppable force, fierce, athletic, and known for his durability.

A product of Grey College in Bloemfontein, Kruger played for the Free State schools team at the annual Craven Week tournament in 1987 and 1988 and gained selection for the SA 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 Northern Transvaal and played for the Union until 2000.

Sadly the brilliant flanker died in 2010 after a long battle with brain cancer aged 39.

Ruben Kruger had been fighting the disease for a decade, since a tumour was discovered in 2000 after he blacked out during a game. An initial operation to remove the tumour was believed to have been a success, only for it to resurface several years later.

In 2009, Ruben Kruger fell ill while on holiday with his family, resulting in a five-hour operation in which surgeons removed 90% of a tumour "the size of a man's fist". 

A host of Springboks attended the funeral where former Springbok captain and 1995 team manager Morné du Plessis said in his tribute that former South African rugby boss Danie Craven had said that it is one thing to become a Springbok, but quite another to be a good one.

“Doc Craven would probably have agreed with me that Ruben Kruger was one of the greats. He is renowned from London and Edinburgh through to Auckland.”

The daughters of Ruben Kruger, Zoë and Bella, were just seven and four respectively when their dad died. They live in America with their mother Lize and both are very talented tennis players. Zoë is based at a prominent academy in Barcelona, Spain, while Bella is at the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.