Springbok no. 596 · Flank

Ruben Kruger

Ruben Jacobus Kruger · Cheetahs, Blue Bulls

36Tests

7Tries

8Tours

23Age at debut

Test career

199319961999

First test

6 Nov 1993, age 23 · Flank v Argentina, Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires

Last test

4 Nov 1999, age 29 · Reserve v New Zealand, Millennium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff

Biography

Ruben Kruger was a tough, tireless flanker who played 36 Tests between 1993 and 1999. Born in Vrede on 30 March 1970 and educated at Grey College, he played for the Orange Free State and Northern Transvaal.

He scored a try in the rain-soaked 1995 World Cup semi-final against France and played in the final. He also played at the 1999 World Cup. He was named South African Player of the Year in 1995. He died of a brain tumour on 27 January 2010.

Test history

36 tests · 35 points

Date	Opponent	Venue	Position	Result	Province
06 Nov 1993	Argentina	Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires	Flank	W 29–26	Cheetahs
13 Nov 1993	Argentina	Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires	Flank	W 52–23	Cheetahs
19 Nov 1994	Scotland	Murrayfield, Edinburgh	Flank	W 34–10	Blue Bulls
26 Nov 1994	Wales	Millennium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff	Flank	W 20–12	Blue Bulls
13 Apr 1995	Samoa	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	W 60–8	Blue Bulls
25 May 1995	Australia	Newlands, Cape Town	Flank	W 27–18	Blue Bulls
30 May 1995	Romania	Newlands, Cape Town	Flank	W 21–8	Blue Bulls
10 Jun 1995	Samoa	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	W 42–14	Blue Bulls
17 Jun 1995	France	Kings Park, Durban	Flank	W 19–15	Blue Bulls
24 Jun 1995	New Zealand	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	W 15–12	Blue Bulls
02 Sep 1995	Wales	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	W 40–11	Blue Bulls
12 Nov 1995	Italy	Olympic Stadium, Rome	Flank	W 40–21	Blue Bulls
18 Nov 1995	England	Twickenham, London	Flank	W 24–14	Blue Bulls
02 Jul 1996	Fiji	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Flank	W 43–18	Blue Bulls
13 Jul 1996	Australia	Sydney Football Stadium (Aussie stadium), Sydney	Flank	L 16–21	Blue Bulls
20 Jul 1996	New Zealand	Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch	Flank	L 11–15	Blue Bulls
03 Aug 1996	Australia	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein	Flank	W 25–19	Blue Bulls
10 Aug 1996	New Zealand	Newlands, Cape Town	Flank	L 18–29	Blue Bulls
17 Aug 1996	New Zealand	Kings Park, Durban	Flank	L 19–23	Blue Bulls
24 Aug 1996	New Zealand	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Flank	L 26–33	Blue Bulls
31 Aug 1996	New Zealand	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	W 32–22	Blue Bulls
09 Nov 1996	Argentina	Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires	Flank	W 46–15	Blue Bulls
16 Nov 1996	Argentina	Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires	Flank	W 44–21	Blue Bulls
30 Nov 1996	France	Parc Lescure, Bordeaux	Flank	W 22–12	Blue Bulls
07 Dec 1996	France	Parc des Princes, Paris	Flank	W 13–12	Blue Bulls
15 Dec 1996	Wales	Millennium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff	Flank	W 37–20	Blue Bulls
10 Jun 1997	Tonga	Newlands, Cape Town	Flank	W 74–10	Blue Bulls
21 Jun 1997	Britain	Newlands, Cape Town	Flank	L 16–25	Blue Bulls
28 Jun 1997	Britain	Kings Park, Durban	Flank	L 15–18	Blue Bulls
19 Jul 1997	New Zealand	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	L 32–35	Blue Bulls
02 Aug 1997	Australia	Brisbane Stadium (Lang Park), Brisbane	Flank	L 20–32	Blue Bulls
09 Aug 1997	New Zealand	Eden Park, Auckland	Flank	L 35–55	Blue Bulls
07 Aug 1999	New Zealand	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Flank	L 18–34	Blue Bulls
14 Aug 1999	Australia	Newlands, Cape Town	Reserve	W 10–9	Blue Bulls
10 Oct 1999	Spain	Murrayfield, Edinburgh	Flank	W 47–3	Blue Bulls
04 Nov 1999	New Zealand	Millennium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff	Reserve	W 22–18	Blue Bulls