George Kruis

George Edward John Kruis[1] (born 22 February 1990) is a professional rugby union player for Panasonic Wild Knights.

George Kruis
Birth nameGeorge Edward John Kruis[1]
Date of birth (1990-02-22) 22 February 1990
Place of birthGuildford, Surrey, England
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight123 kg (19 st 5 lb; 271 lb)
SchoolSt John's School, Leatherhead
UniversityUniversity of Hertfordshire
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Panasonic Wild Knights
Youth career
Dorking RFC
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009-2010 Barking RFC 9 15
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–2020
2011
2020		 Saracens
->Bedford Blues
Panasonic Wild Knights		 185
6		 (55)
(0)
Correct as of 1 September 2018
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010
2013
2014–2020
2017		 England U20
England A
England
British and Irish Lions		 9
2
45
3		 (5)
(0)
(15)
(5)
Correct as of 26 October 2019

He was born in Guildford, Surrey and was educated at Belmont Preparatory School, and St John's School, Leatherhead.[2] He played all of his youth rugby for Dorking RFC.

His primary position is as a second row, but he is also able to play at blindside flanker or at number 8. He is almost always used as a jumper in the line-out due to his height and athleticism.

Kruis was eligible to play for the Netherlands as his father, Leo, is Dutch.[3]

Rugby career

Youth Rugby

Kruis was a relatively late developer in both physique and rugby terms, not really coming into his own until his sixth form years at School. In the Spring of 2007 Kruis and his Dorking RFC U17 teammates won the U17 National Cup beating Altrincham Kersal in the Final at Sixways Stadium, Worcester. He continued his rapid ascent and enjoyed an exceptional season for the St John's, Leatherhead 1st XV in the Autumn/Winter 2007, being selected to captain Surrey U18s. With some strong showings for the county he impressed enough to gain selection for London and South East U18s in the annual Divisional tournament at Broadstreet RFC.[4] He started every game in the second row, captaining the team and scoring three tries in the final fixture against South West U18s.[5]

2008–2009 season

He was offered a trial with Saracens in the summer of 2008. Having played in the A League fixtures, Kruis impressed and was kept on until the end of the 2008/09 season. He was also dual registered with Barking RFC during this season.[6] Later in the season he agreed a 2-year professional contract covering the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons. He joined Saracens full-time from 1 July 2009.

2009–2010 season

In the 2009–2010 season Kruis prospered under the trust shown in him by the Saracens staff. He made his debut in November 2009 in the LV= Cup against Northampton Saints[7] and was the standout player for the Saracens Storm (A Team) being awarded the Saracens Storm Player of the Year.[8] To cap this season off he made his debut for England U20 in the 2010 U20 RBS Six Nations coming off the bench against Italy and Ireland respectively.[9] He was then selected in the England U20 World Championship squad that travelled to Argentina.[10][11] He played in all five games, starting three (Ireland,[12][13] France,[14] South Africa) and coming on as a replacement in two (Argentina,[15] Australia[16]). England lost in the semi-finals to Australia and ended up coming 4th overall having lost to South Africa in the 3rd/4th playoff. Kruis was also duel registered with Barking RFC again.

2010–2011 season

Kruis saw continued first team action in the 2010/2011 season, making his premiership debut against London Irish in the London Double Header.[17] Kruis also made his Heineken Cup debut playing in both the home and away fixtures against Racing Metro.[18][19] This promising season was put on hold when Kruis fracture-dislocated his right wrist playing in a Saracens Storm match in early January. After surgery and a prolonged period of rehabilitation he made a comeback in April playing for Bedford Blues in the culmination of the Championship season and the British and Irish Cup Final.[20] Kruis also signed a new deal with Saracens.[21]

2011–2012 season

After a strong pre-season and with the Rugby World Cup in progress, Kruis has now grown into a secure first team player at the North London club. He has already made 14 first team appearances in the 2011 season to date (January 2012)[22][23] underlining his growing reputation within Saracens and England. Kruis started in the 'Big Game 4' against Harlequins at Twickenham. It was watched by 82,000 people, creating a new world record for the largest attended regular season rugby match in the world.[24] Kruis gained his first ever Aviva Premiership Man of the Match award against London Wasps on 12 February 2012, having been chosen by ESPN commentator Ben Kay.[25] Kruis then remarkably doubled this feat a week later when, against Leicester Tigers on 19 February 2012, he was awarded Man of the Match live on Sky Sports by commentator Stuart Barnes. Kruis finished off the season well for Saracens before playing in the Heineken Cup Quarter Final and Aviva Premiership Semi Final losses to Clermont Auvergne and Leicester Tigers respectively.

2012–2013 season

With Kruis having increased in bulk over the pre-season programme many were tipping him for further recognition; this was until he suffered a small tear to his medial ligament playing in the JP Morgan Premiership 7s event at the Stoop. After 10 weeks out injured, he was back into first team recognition. Playing at blindside flanker, Kruis was named Man of the Match against Munster in the Heineken Cup by Sky Sports analyst Stuart Barnes. His impressive form was noticed by the England coaching set up and he was duly called up to the England Saxons squad in January as an injury replacement for Tom Palmer.[26] Kruis was then subsequently picked to start, and make his Saxons debut, at blindside flanker against the Ireland Wolfhounds (Ireland A) in Galway on 25 January 2013.[27] England Saxons won the match 10–14. He has since been picked again at blindside flanker for the Saxons against Scotland A at Kingston Park, Newcastle on 1 February 2013.[28] Scotland A snatched the win 9–13 in an attritional contest.

2013 to 2020

During his time at Saracens he has won four Premiership titles in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, with Kruis featuring in all four finals.[29][30][31][32] He also helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup in 2016, 2017 and 2019, scoring a try in the 2017 final.[33][34][35]

Panasonic Wild Knights

He left England to join Japanese side Panasonic Wild Knights ahead of the 2020–21 season.[36]

International career

On 22 October 2014, Kruis was named in a 33-member England Performance Squad for the upcoming Autumn Internationals.

He made his international debut against New Zealand at Twickenham on 8 November 2014, coming on as a replacement.

When Eddie Jones took over as England's head coach, Kruis established himself as the country's first choice lock.[37] In the 2016 Calcutta Cup match in the 2016 6 Nations competition, Kruis scored the opening try against Scotland[38]

Kruis' international standing increased when he was selected for the British and Irish Lions 2017 tour of New Zealand and named in the starting line-up for the First Test at Eden Park on Saturday 24 June.

International career

International tries
As of 7 July 2019 [39]
TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1 ScotlandEdinburgh, ScotlandMurrayfield2016 Six Nations6 February 2016Win15 – 9
2 ItalyLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2019 Six Nations9 March 2019Win57 – 14

References
  1. "George Edward John KRUIS - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk.
  2. "Rugby glory for pupils past and present | St John's School Leatherhead". Stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  3. Cain, Nick (3 April 2014). "Nick Cain Talks to Saracens Lock George Kruis". The Rugby Paper. Greenways Publishing. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  4. "Trialists 18 Group 2005". London-and-southeast-rugby.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  5. "Match reports – from the December 2007 Regional Festival". London-and-southeast-rugby.org.uk. 30 December 2007. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  6. "Young star Kruis leaves Big Field | This is Surrey". Thisissurreytoday.co.uk. 27 January 2009. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  7. "Northampton Saints send Saracens to first defeat in LV Anglo Welsh Cup (From Watford Observer)". Watfordobserver.co.uk. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  8. "England Saxon Brad Barritt named Saracens' player of the year (From Enfield Independent)". Enfieldindependent.co.uk. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  9. Wood, Duncan (20 April 2010). "Gloucester Rugby Club : Gloucester trio set for U20 World Cup in Argentina". Gloucesterrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  10. Sportsbeat (10 February 2010). "Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : Under-20 coach Mapletoft wants to keep momentum despite changes". Rbs6nations.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  11. "England Under 20 Squad 2010 JWC » Rugby World Cup News". Worldrugbynews.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  12. "Rugby Union – ESPN Scrum – England Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s, Jun 9, 2010". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  13. "VIDEO – England U20 defeat Ireland for second JWC win". Rugby Football Union. 9 June 2010. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  14. "Rugby Union – ESPN Scrum – England Under-20s v France Under-20s, Jun 13, 2010". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  15. "Rugby Union – ESPN Scrum – Argentina Under-20s v England Under-20s, Jun 5, 2010". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  16. "Rugby Union – ESPN Scrum – Australia Under-20s v England Under-20s, Jun 17, 2010". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  17. "Rugby News | Rugby Union News | RFU News | Rugby Lions | Orange UK". Orange.planet-rugby.com. 26 September 2006. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  18. "ERC : Match Centre : Heineken Cup : Racing Metro claim first away win". Ercrugby.com. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  19. "Rugby Union News | Match Preview | Saracens v Racing Metro 92 – 11th December 2010". Sky Sports. 11 December 2010. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  20. "Bristol beat Bedford to win British and Irish Cup". Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  21. "BBC Sport – Rugby Union – Owen Farrell among six new Saracens deals". BBC News. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  22. "Match Report: 03 Sep 2011 London Wasps v Saracens – London Wasps". Wasps.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  23. "Match Preview | Leicester v Saracens – 24th September 2011 | Sky Sports | Rugby Union News". Sky Sports. 23 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  24. "Harlequins 11–19 Saracens". BBC News. 27 December 2011.
  25. "George Kruis: We really proved we could stick together". ESPN.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012.
  26. "Kvesic, Botha and Monye training with England in Leeds". Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013.
  27. "VIDEO – Five new faces make England Saxons debuts in Galway". Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013.
  28. "May and Mullan in Saxons' starting line-up". Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013.
  29. "Premiership final: Bath 16-28 Saracens". BBC. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  30. "Premiership final: Saracens 28-20 Exeter Chiefs". BBC. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  31. "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens". BBC. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  32. "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens". BBC. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  33. "Saracens beat Racing 92 to win first European Champions Cup". BBC. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  34. "European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title". BBC. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  35. "Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle". BBC. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  36. "George Kruis to leave Saracens for Japan's Panasonic Wild Knights". The Guardian. 25 May 2020.
  37. "Italy vs England George Kruis ready for a 'scrap' against Italy". 13 February 2016.
  38. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35512860
  39. "George Kruis". 7 July 2019.
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