Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Former Springbok Kruger calls time on 16-year career

Werner Kruger /Getty Images

Scarlets prop Werner Kruger is set to bring the curtain down a 16-year career that has seen him play over 370 first-class rugby games in Super Rugby, the Currie Cup and the PRO14.

ADVERTISEMENT

The experienced tight-head prop has been in Llanelli since arriving from Super Rugby side the Bulls in 2016. Capped four times by the Springboks, Kruger was the first Bulls player to make a century of appearances in both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup.

“You hear the statement ‘you know when you know’ and you never really understand until it comes across your path,” he said. “I feel very privileged and very blessed to have been able to have played this game that we love for the past 16-plus years.

Video Spacer

AWJ and Pivac front up:

Video Spacer

AWJ and Pivac front up:

“Rugby has been a passion of mine from being a young kid growing up, dreaming of playing for the Springboks and it has been a real privilege to have played for so long.”

He has played 122 times for the West Wales region, establishing himself as a hugely reliable front-row operator as well as a prop with an eye for the try-line, having scored nine times in Scarlets colours.

“It could not have started better for me, going on that winning run and then winning the title in Dublin against Munster. That entire season is a massive highlight for me. The La Rochelle European quarter-final and seeing Parc y Scarlets packed out was also something special.”

“I have been privileged in my career to have been involved in some great squads. Winning two Super Rugby finals back-to-back with the Bulls was a massive honour and of course representing the Springboks and making my debut against Australia in Sydney is something I will never forget.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Kruger is planning to pursue a career as a financial planner.

Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney said: “To make more than a century of appearances in the Currie Cup, Super Rugby and with the Scarlets is an incredible achievement and testament to Werner’s professionalism and the way he approaches his rugby. He is a role model for any young player coming into the game.

“All of us involved with the Scarlets would like to congratulate Werner on a wonderful career and I’m sure he still has a few more games left in him before he returns to South Africa at the end of the season.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
AM 44 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

72 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Joe Marler wasn't wrong to take a pop at the All Blacks' haka Joe Marler wasn't wrong to take a pop at the All Blacks' haka
Search