Tertius Kruger

Tertius Kruger (born 9 August 1993 in Randfontein, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the Southern Kings in the Pro14.[1] His regular position is centre.

Tertius Kruger
Date of birth (1993-08-09) 9 August 1993
Place of birthRandfontein, South Africa
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Weight90 kg (14 st 2 lb; 198 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Outeniqua, George /
Oudtshoorn High School, Oudtshoorn
UniversityMBW
Notable relative(s)De Wet Kruger (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Current team HKU Sandy Bay RFC
Youth career
2006–2011 SWD Eagles
2012 Free State U19
2013–2014 Free State U21
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2015 UFS Shimlas 11 (5)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2016 Free State Cheetahs 2 (0)
2016 Free State XV 12 (20)
2016 Griffons 7 (10)
2017 Griquas 22 (60)
2017–2018 Cheetahs 2 (0)
2018 Free State XV 4 (30)
2018 Free State Cheetahs 4 (0)
2018–2020 Southern Kings 13 (10)
2020–Present HKU Sandy Bay 0 (0)
Correct as of 4 May 2019

Career

SWD Eagles

Kruger was involved in provincial rugby since primary school level, representing the SWD Eagles at the Under-13 Craven Week competition in 2006. He was also selected to represent the SWD Eagles at Under-16 level, playing at the Grant Khomo Week in 2009, and at Under-18 level, playing at South Africa's premier high school rugby union tournament, the Craven Week, in 2011.

Free State / UFS Shimlas

After high school, Kruger moved to Bloemfontein to join the Free State Cheetahs. He made seven starts for the Free State U19 team during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship, scoring tries in their matches against the Leopards U19[2] and the Golden Lions U19.[3] Free State lost out on a semi-final spot in the competition, however, finishing in sixth spot.

In 2013, he made the step up to Under-21 level and played in ten of the Free State U21 team's matches during the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship. He again scored two tries – against eventual champions Western Province U21 in an 18–16 victory in the opening match of their season[4] and against Sharks U21[5] – as his side once again missed out on the semi-finals by finishing fifth.

He started the 2014 season by representing university side UFS Shimlas in the 2014 Varsity Cup. He made four appearances and scored against UJ in a 52–13 win[6] as UFS Shimlas finished the competition in fifth spot. He started nine matches for Free State U21 in the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship and scored tries against Western Province U21[7] and in both of their matches against the Leopards.[8][9] His side finished fourth to qualify for the semi-final, where they were beaten by Western Province.[10]

Kruger started seven of the UFS Shimlas' matches during the 2015 Varsity Cup competition, helping Shimlas finish top of the log and qualify for a home semi-final. He featured in their semi-final match against two-time champions UCT Ikey Tigers where Shimlas secured a 21–10 victory[11] to help them qualify for their first ever final. He also started the final against the NWU Pukke as Shimlas ran out comfortable 63–33 winners[12] to win their first ever Varsity Cup title.

Free State Cheetahs

He was included in the Free State Cheetahs senior squad for the first time for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division[13] and was initially named on the bench for their Round Two match against Western Province,[14] but subsequently replaced by loose-forward Tienie Burger.[15] He was again named on the bench for their Round Four match against the same opposition, but failed to make an appearance.[16] He eventually made his first class debut on 19 September 2015 as he played off the bench in the Free State Cheetahs' 44–24 victory over Griquas.[17] He made his first start a week later in their 31–73 defeat to the Golden Lions.[18]

Southern Kings

Kruger moved to Port Elizabeth to join the Southern Kings after the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division.[19]

Personal life

He is the younger brother of number eight De Wet Kruger. The both played for the Free State Cheetahs in the 2015 Currie Cup; Tertius made his first class debut one week before De Wet and the two brothers featured in a match together when De Wet made his debut in their defeat to the Golden Lions.[18]

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Tertius Kruger". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State Cheetahs 31-32 Leopards". South African Rugby Union. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 25-21 Toyota Free State Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State 18-16 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – The Sharks U21 36-25 Toyota Free State". South African Rugby Union. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 52-13 FNB UJ". South African Rugby Union. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Western Province U21 20-17 Free State U21". South African Rugby Union. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards U21 29-37 Free State U21". South African Rugby Union. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Free State U21 39-38 Leopards U21". South African Rugby Union. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Western Province U21 41-17 Free State U21". South African Rugby Union. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 21-10 FNB UCT". South African Rugby Union. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  12. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 63-33 FNB NWU-PUKKE". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  13. "SA Rugby Squad – Toyota Free State : 2015 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  14. "Toyota Free State Cheetahs takes on Western Province". Free State Cheetahs. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  15. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 9-3 Toyota Free State". South African Rugby Union. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  16. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State 28-21 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  17. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State 44-24 ORC Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  18. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State 31-73 Xerox Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  19. "Cheetahs se Kruger Kings toe ná CB-reeks". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
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