Ruben Kruger
| Date of birth | March 30, 1970 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of death | January 27, 2010 (aged 39) | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 101 kg (223 lb) | ||
| Notable relative(s) | Henco Venter (nephew) | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Flanker | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| Free State Cheetahs Northern Transvaal Bulls |
|||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1993–1999 |  South Africa |
36 | (35) |
Ruben Jacobus Kruger, (30 March 1970 – 27 January 2010)[1] born in Vrede (South Africa), was a South African rugby union player. He played as a flanker.
Career
Kruger played for the South Africa national rugby union team between 1993 and 1999. 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. He also played in the 1999 World Cup.
At club level, Kruger represented the Currie Cup teams of the Free State Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls. In 1995 Ruben Kruger was named South African Rugby Football Union's player of the year. 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.[2]
Province
- Free State Cheetahs
- Northern Transvaal (Super 12) until 1996
- Bulls (Super 14) since 1996
Springboks
He played his first test match for the Springboks on 6 November 1993 against Argentina (won 29-26).
Honours
Springboks
- 36 caps
- 7 tries (35 points)
- Caps by season : 2 in 1993, 2 in 1994, 9 in 1995, 13 in 1996, 6 in 1997, 4 in 1999.
World Cups
- 1995 : world champions, 5 selections (Wallabies, Romania, Samoa, France, All Blacks).
- 1999 : 2 selections (Spain, All Blacks).